Life Sciences Part 1 CSIR JRF NET GATE DBT PDF

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Life Sciences
Fundamentals and Practice
Part I
Fourth edition
Pranav Kumar
Former faculty,
Department of Biotechnology
Jamia Millia Islamia,
New Delhi, India
Usha Mina
Scientist,
Division of Environmental Sciences
Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI),
New Delhi, India
Pathfinder Publication
New Delhi, India
www.pathfinderacademy.in
Pranav Kumar
Former faculty,
Department of Biotechnology
Jamia Millia Islamia,
New Delhi, India
Usha Mina
Scientist,
Division of Environmental Sciences
Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI),
New Delhi, India
Life Sciences Fundamentals and Practice, Fourth edition

ISBN: 978-81-906427-0-5 (paperback)
Copyright 2014 by Pathfinder Publication, all rights reserved.
This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly

regarded sources. Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data
and information, but the author and the publisher cannot assume responsibility
for the validity of all materials or for the consequences of their use.
No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or
electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording, nor it may be
stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise copied for public or
private use, without written permission from the publisher.
Publisher : Pathfinder Publication

Production editor : Ajay Kumar
Copy editor : Jomesh Joseph
Illustration and layout : Pradeep Verma
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Marketing director : Arun Kumar
Production coordinator : Murari Kumar Singh
Printer : Ronit Enterprises, New Delhi, India
Pathfinder Publication
A unit of Pathfinder Academy Private Limited, New Delhi, India.
www.thepathfinder.in
09350208235
Preface
Life Sciences have always been a fundamental area of science. The exponential increase in
the quantity of scientific information and the rate, at which new discoveries are made, require
very elaborate, interdisciplinary and up-to-date information and their understanding. This
fourth edition of Life sciences, Fundamentals and practice includes extensive revisions of the
previous edition. We have attempted to provide an extraordinarily large amount of information
from the enormous and ever-growing field in an easily retrievable form. It is written in clear
and concise language to enhance self-motivation and strategic learning skill of the students
and empowering them with a mechanism to measure and analyze their abilities and the
confidence of winning. We have given equal importance to text and illustrations. The fourth
edition has a number of new figures to enhance understanding. At the same time, we avoid
excess detail, which can obscure the main point of the figure. We have retained the design
elements that have evolved through the previous editions to make the book easier to read.
Sincere efforts have been made to support textual clarifications and explanations with the
help of flow charts, figures and tables to make learning easy and convincing. The chapters
have been supplemented with self-tests and questions so as to check ones own level of
understanding. Although the chapters of this book can be read independently of one another,
they are arranged in a logical sequence. Each page is carefully laid out to place related text,
figures and tables near one another, minimizing the need for page turning while reading a
topic. I have given equal importance to text and illustrations as well. We hope you will find
this book interesting, relevant and challenging.
Acknowledgements
Our students were the original inspiration for the first edition of this book, and we remain
continually grateful to them, because we learn from them how to think about the life sciences,
and how to communicate knowledge in most meaningful way. We thank, Dr. Diwakar Kumar
Singh and Mr. Ajay Kumar, reviewers of this book, whose comment and suggestions were
invaluable in improving the text. Any book of this kind requires meticulous and painstaking
efforts by all its contributors. Several diligent and hardworking minds have come together to
bring out this book in this complete form. We are much beholden to each of them and especially
to Dr. Neeraj Tiwari. This book is a team effort, and producing it would be impossible without
the outstanding people of Pathfinder Publication. It was a pleasure to work with many other
dedicated and creative people of Pathfinder Publication during the production of this book,
especially Pradeep Verma.
Pranav Kumar
Usha Mina
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Contents
Chapter 1
Biomolecules and Catalysis
1.1 Amino acids and Proteins 1
1.1.1 Optical properties 2
1.1.2 Absolute configuration 4
1.1.3 Standard and non-standard amino acids 5
1.1.4 Titration of amino acids 8
1.1.5 Peptide and polypeptide 11
1.1.6 Peptide bond 12
1.1.7 Protein structure 14
1.1.8 Denaturation of proteins 18
1.1.9 Solubilities of proteins 19
1.1.10 Simple and conjugated proteins 20
1.2 Fibrous and globular proteins 20
1.2.1 Collagen 21
1.2.2 Elastin 22
1.2.3 Keratins 23
1.2.4 Myoglobin 23
1.2.5 Hemoglobin 25
1.2.6 Models for the behavior of allosteric proteins 29
1.3 Protein folding 31
1.3.1 Molecular chaperones 32
1.3.2 Amyloid 33
1.4 Protein sequencing and assays 34
1.5 Nucleic acids 42
1.5.1 Nucleotides 42
1.5.2 Chargaffs rules 46
1.6 Structure of dsDNA 47
1.6.1 B-DNA 47
1.6.2 Z-DNA 49
1.6.3 Triplex DNA 49
1.6.4 G-quadruplex 50
1.6.5 Stability of the double helical structure of DNA 51
1.6.6 Thermal denaturation 51
1.6.7 Quantification of nucleic acids 53
1.6.8 Supercoiled forms of DNA 53
1.6.9 DNA: A genetic material 56
v
1.7 RNA 58
1.7.1 Alkali-catalyzed cleavage of RNA 60
1.7.2 RNA world hypothesis 61
1.7.3 RNA as genetic material 61
1.8 Carbohydrates 63
1.8.1 Monosaccharide 63
1.8.2 Epimers 64
1.8.3 Cyclic forms 65
1.8.4 Derivatives of monosaccharide 67
1.8.5 Disaccharides and glycosidic bond 68
1.8.6 Polysaccharides 70
1.8.7 Glycoproteins 72
1.8.8 Reducing and non-reducing sugar 73
1.9 Lipids 73
1.9.1 Fatty acids 74
1.9.2 Triacylglycerol and Wax 75
1.9.3 Phospholipids 76
1.9.4 Glycolipids 78
1.9.5 Steroid 79
1.9.6 Eicosanoid 79
1.9.7 Plasma lipoproteins 81
1.10 Vitamins 82
1.10.1 Water-soluble vitamins 82
1.10.2 Fat-soluble vitamins 86
1.11 Enzymes 89
1.11.1 Naming and classification of enzyme 90
1.11.2 What enzyme does? 91
1.11.3 How enzymes operate? 92
1.11.4 Enzyme kinetics 94
1.11.5 Enzyme inhibition 102
1.11.6 Regulatory enzymes 105
1.11.7 Isozymes 106
1.11.8 Zymogen 107
1.11.9 Ribozyme 108
1.11.10 Examples of enzymatic reactions 108
Chapter 2
Bioenergetics and Metabolism
2.1 Bioenergetics 117
2.2 Metabolism 122
2.3 Respiration 123
2.3.1 Aerobic respiration 123
2.3.2 Glycolysis 124
2.3.3 Pyruvate oxidation 129
vi
2.3.4 Krebs cycle 131
2.3.5 Anaplerotic reaction 134
2.3.6 Oxidative phosphorylation 135
2.3.7 Inhibitors of electron transport 139
2.3.8 Electrochemical proton gradient 140
2.3.9 Chemiosmotic theory 141
2.3.10 ATP synthase 142
2.3.11 Uncoupling agents and ionophores 144
2.3.12 ATP-ADP exchange across the inner mitochondrial membrane 144
2.3.13 Shuttle systems 145
2.3.14 P/O ratio 147
2.3.15 Fermentation 148
2.3.16 Pasteur effect 150
2.3.17 Warburg effect 150
2.3.18 Respiratory quotient 151
2.4 Glyoxylate cycle 151
2.5 Pentose phosphate pathway 152
2.6 Entner-Doudoroff pathway 154
2.7 Photosynthesis 154
2.7.1 Photosynthetic pigment 155
2.7.2 Absorption and action spectra 158
2.7.3 Fate of light energy absorbed by photosynthetic pigments 160
2.7.4 Concept of photosynthetic unit 161
2.7.5 Hill reaction 162
2.7.6 Oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthesis 162
2.7.7 Concept of pigment system 163
2.7.8 Stages of photosynthesis 165
2.7.9 Light reactions 165
2.7.10 Prokaryotic photosynthesis 171
2.7.11 Non-chlorophyll based photosynthesis 173
2.7.12 Dark reaction: Calvin cycle 174
2.7.13 Starch and sucrose synthesis 177
2.8 Photorespiration 178
2.8.1 C4 cycle 179
2.8.2 CAM pathway 180
2.9 Carbohydrate metabolism 182
2.9.1 Gluconeogenesis 182
2.9.2 Glycogen metabolism 187
2.10 Lipid metabolism 192
2.10.1 Synthesis and storage of triacylglycerols 192
2.10.2 Biosynthesis of fatty acid 194
2.10.3 Fatty acid oxidation 198
2.10.4 Biosynthesis of cholesterol 205
2.10.5 Steroid hormones and Bile acids 206
vii
2.11 Amino acid metabolism 208
2.11.1 Amino acid synthesis 208
2.11.2 Amino acid catabolism 211
2.11.3 Molecules derived from amino acids 217
2.12 Nucleotide metabolism 218
2.12.1 Nucleotide synthesis 218
2.12.2 Nucleotide degradation 225
Chapter 3
Cell Structure and Functions
3.1 What is a Cell? 231
3.2 Structure of eukaryotic cells 232
3.2.1 Plasma membrane 232
3.2.2 ABO blood group 239
3.2.3 Transport across plasma membrane 241
3.3 Membrane potential 248
3.4 Transport of macromolecules across plasma membrane 258
3.4.1 Endocytosis 258
3.4.2 Fate of receptor 262
3.4.3 Exocytosis 263
3.5 Ribosome 264
3.5.1 Protein targeting and translocation 265
3.6 Endoplasmic reticulum 266
3.6.1 Endomembrane system 271
3.6.2 Transport of proteins across the ER membrane 271
3.6.3 Transport of proteins from ER to cis Golgi 276
3.7 Golgi complex 277
3.7.1 Transport of proteins through cisternae 279
3.7.2 Transport of proteins from the TGN to lysosomes 280
3.8 Vesicle fusion 281
3.9 Lysosome 282
3.10 Vacuoles 284
3.11 Mitochondria 284
3.12 Plastids 287
3.13 Peroxisome 288
3.14 Cytoskeleton 289
3.14.1 Microtubules 289
3.14.2 Kinesins and Dyneins 292
3.14.3 Cilia and Flagella 292
3.14.4 Centriole 295
3.14.5 Actin filament 295
3.14.6 Myosin 297
3.14.7 Muscle contraction 298
3.14.8 Intermediate filaments 302
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3.15 Cell junctions 303
3.16 Cell adhesion molecules 306
3.17 Extracellular matrix of animals 307
3.18 Plant cell wall 308
3.19 Nucleus 310
3.20 Cell signaling 313
3.20.1 Signal molecules 314
3.20.2 Receptors 315
3.20.3 GPCR and G-proteins 317
3.20.4 Ion channel-linked receptors 326
3.20.5 Enzyme-linked receptors 326
3.20.6 Nitric oxide 332
3.20.7 Two-component signaling systems 333
3.20.8 Chemotaxis in bacteria 334
3.20.9 Quorum sensing 335
3.20.10 Scatchard plot 336
3.21 Cell Cycle 338
3.21.1 Role of Rb protein in cell cycle regulation 342
3.21.2 Role of p53 protein in cell cycle regulation 343
3.21.3 Replicative senescence 344
3.22 Mechanics of cell division 344
3.22.1 Mitosis 344
3.22.2 Meiosis 351
3.22.3 Nondisjunction and aneuploidy 357
3.23 Apoptosis 358
3.24 Cancer 361
3.25 Stem cells 368
Chapter 4
Prokaryotes and Viruses
4.1 General features of Prokaryotes 373
4.2 Phylogenetic overview 374
4.3 Structure of bacterial cell 374
4.4 Bacterial genome : Bacterial chromosome and plasmid 385
4.5 Bacterial nutrition 389
4.5.1 Culture media 391
4.5.2 Bacterial growth 391
4.6 Horizontal gene transfer and genetic recombination 395
4.6.1 Transformation 396
4.6.2 Transduction 398
4.6.3 Conjugation 402
4.7 Bacterial taxonomy 407
4.8 General features of important bacterial groups 409
4.9 Archaebacteria 411
ix
4.10 Bacterial toxins 412
4.11 Control of microbial growth 414
4.12 Virus 418
4.12.1 Bacteriophage (Bacterial virus) 419
4.12.2 Life cycle of bacteriophage 420
4.12.3 Plaque assay 423
4.12.4 Genetic analysis of phage 425
4.12.5 Animal viruses 428
4.12.6 Plant viruses 438
4.13 Prions and Viroid 439
4.13.1 Bacterial and viral disease 440
Chapter 5
Immunology
5.1 Innate immunity 443
5.2 Adaptive immunity 445
5.3 Cells of the immune system 447
5.3.1 Lymphoid progenitor 448
5.3.2 Myeloid progenitor 450
5.4 Organs involved in the adaptive immune response 451
5.4.1 Primary lymphoid organs 451
5.4.2 Secondary lymphoid organs/tissues 452
5.5 Antigens 453
5.6 Major-histocompatibility complex 457
5.6.1 MHC molecules and antigen presentation 459
5.6.2 Antigen processing and presentation 460
5.6.3 Laboratory mice 462
5.7 Immunoglobulins : Structure and function 463
5.7.1 Basic structure of antibody molecule 463
5.7.2 Different classes of immunoglobulin 466
5.7.3 Action of antibody 468
5.7.4 Antigenic determinants on immunoglobulins 468
5.8 B-cell maturation and activation 470
5.9 Kinetics of the antibody response 476
5.10 Monoclonal antibodies and Hybridoma technology 477
5.10.1 Engineered monoclonal antibodies 478
5.11 Organization and expression of Ig genes 480
5.12 Generation of antibody diversity 486
5.13 T-cells and CMI 489
5.13.1 Superantigens 499
5.14 Cytokines 500
5.15 The complement system 504
5.16 Hypersensitivity 507
5.17 Autoimmunity 510
5.18 Transplantation 510
x
5.19 Immunodeficiency diseases 511
5.20 Failures of host defense mechanisms 511
5.21 Vaccines 513
Chapter 6
Diversity of Life
6.1 Taxonomy 520
6.1.1 Nomenclature 520
6.1.2 Classification 521
6.1.3 Biological species concept 521
6.1.4 Phenetics 522
6.1.5 Cladistics 524
6.2 The five-kingdom system 526
6.3 Protists 528
6.3.1 Protozoan protists 528
6.3.2 Photosynthetic protists 529
6.3.3 Slime mold 530
6.3.4 Oomycetes 531
6.4 Fungi 531
6.4.1 Mycorrhiza 533
6.4.2 Lichens 533
6.5 Plantae 534
6.5.1 Plant life cycle 534
6.5.2 Algae 536
6.5.3 Life cycle of land plants 538
6.5.4 Bryophytes 539
6.5.5 Pteridophytes 541
6.5.6 Gymnosperm 542
6.5.7 Angiosperms 543
6.6 Animalia 547
6.7 Animals classification 553
6.7.1 Phylum Porifera 554
6.7.2 Phylum Cnidaria 554
6.7.3 Phylum Platyhelminthes 554
6.7.4 Phylum Aschelminthes 555
6.7.5 Phylum Annelida 557
6.7.6 Phylum Mollusca 557
6.7.7 Phylum Arthropoda 557
6.7.8 Phylum Echinodermata 558
6.7.9 Phylum Hemichordata 558
6.7.10 Phylum Chordata 559
Answers of self test 567
Index
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Chapter 01
A biomolecule is an organic molecule that is produced by a living organism. Biomolecules act as building blocks of
life and perform important functions in living organisms. More than 25 naturally occurring chemical elements are
found in biomolecules. Most of the elements have relatively low atomic numbers. Biomolecules consist primarily of
carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur. The four most abundant elements in living organisms,
in terms of the percentage of the total number of atoms, are hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon, which
together make up over 99% of the mass of most cells.
Nearly all of the biomolecules in a cell are carbon compounds, which account for more than one-half of the dry
weight of the cells. Covalent bonding between carbon and other elements permit formation of a large number of
compounds. Most biomolecules can be regarded as derivatives of hydrocarbons. The hydrogen atoms may be
replaced by a variety of functional groups to yield different families of organic compounds. Typical families of
organic compounds are the alcohols, which have one or more hydroxyl groups; amines, which have amino groups;
aldehydes and ketones, which have carbonyl groups; and carboxylic acids, which have carboxyl groups. Many
biomolecules are polyfunctional, containing two or more different kinds of functional groups. Functional groups
determine chemical properties of biomolecules.
Sugars, fatty acids, amino acids and nucleotides constitute the four major families of biomolecules in cells. Many of
the biomolecules found within cells are macromolecules and mostly are polymers (composed of small, covalently
linked monomeric subunits). These macromolecules are proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids.
Small biomolecules Macromolecules
Sugars Polysaccharide
Fatty acids Fats/Lipids
Amino acids Proteins
Nucleotide Nucleic acid
Nucleic acids and proteins are informational macromolecules. Proteins are polymers of amino acids and constitute
the largest fraction (besides water) of cells. The nucleic acids, DNA and RNA, are polymers of nucleotides. They
store, transmit, and translate genetic information. The polysaccharides, polymers of simple sugars, have two
major functions. They serve as energy-yielding fuel stores and as extracellular structural elements.
1.1 Amino acids and Proteins

Amino acids are compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. They serve as monomers (building
blocks) of proteins and composed of an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom, and a distinctive side
chain, all bonded to a carbon atom, the -carbon.
In an -amino acid, the amino and carboxylate groups are attached to the same carbon atom, which is called the
-carbon. The various -amino acids differ with respect to the side chain (R group) attached to their -carbon. The
general structure of an amino acid is:
1

COO
+ a
H3N C H
R (side chain)
Figure 1.1 General structure of an amino acid.
This structure is common to all except one of the -amino acids (proline is the exception). The R group or side chain
attached to the -carbon is different in each amino acid. In the simplest case, the R group is a hydrogen atom and
amino acid is glycine.

COO e d g b a
+ 6 5 4 3 2 1
+
H3N C H NH3 CH2 CH2 CH2 CH2 CH COO
+
H NH3
Figure 1.2 Structure of glycine and lysine.
In -amino acids both the amino group and the carboxyl group are attached to the same carbon atom. However,
many naturally occurring amino acids not found in protein, have structures that differ from the -amino acids. In
these compounds the amino group is attached to a carbon atom other than the -carbon atom and they are called
, , , or amino acids depending upon the location of the C-atom to which amino group is attached.
Amino acids can act as acids and bases

When an amino acid is dissolved in water, it exists in solution as the dipolar ion or zwitterion. A zwitterion can act as
either an acid (proton donor) or a base (proton acceptor). Hence, an amino acid is an amphoteric molecule. At
high concentrations of hydrogen ions (low pH), the carboxyl group accepts a proton and becomes uncharged, so
that the overall charge on the molecule is positive. Similarly at low concentrations of hydrogen ion (high pH), the
amino group loses its proton and becomes uncharged; thus the overall charge on the molecule is negative.
R O R O R O
+ +

H3N C C OH H3N C C O H2N C C O
H H H
Low pH (pH < pI) Intermediate pH High pH (pH > pI)

(pH = pI)
Figure 1.3 The acid-base behavior of an amino acid in solution. At low pH, the positively charged species
predominates. As the pH increases, the electrically neutral zwitterion becomes predominant. At higher pH, the
negatively charged species predominates.
1.1.1 Optical properties

All amino acids except glycine are optically active i.e. they rotate the plane of plane polarized light. Optically active
molecules contain chiral carbon. A tetrahedral carbon atom with four different constituents are said to be chiral. All
amino acids except glycine have chiral carbon and hence they are optically active.
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1.4 Protein sequencing and assays

Determination of amino acid compositions
Peptide bonds of proteins are hydrolyzed by either strong acid or strong base. In acid hydrolysis, the peptide can
be hydrolyzed into its constituent amino acids by heating it in 6 M HCl at 110C for 24 hours. Base hydrolysis of
polypeptides is carried out in 2 to 4 M NaOH at 100C for 4 to 8 hours. A mixture of amino acids in hydrolysates can
be separated by ion exchange chromatography or by reversed phase HPLC. The identity of the amino acid is
revealed by its elution volume and quantified by reaction with ninhydrin.
N-terminal analysis
Reagent 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (FDNB) and Dansyl chloride are used for determination of N-terminal amino
acid residue. FDNB reacts in alkaline solution (pH 9.5) with the free amino group of the N-terminal amino acid
residue of a peptide to form a characteristic yellow dinitrophenyl (DNP) derivative. It can be released from the
peptide by either acid or enzymic hydrolysis of the peptide bond and subsequently identified. Sanger first used this
reaction to determine the primary structure of the polypeptide hormone insulin. This reagent is often referred to as
Sangers reagent.
NO2 NO2
R R
O2N F + NH2 C COOH O2N N C COOH + HF
H H H
FDNB Yellow-coloured derivative
Figure 1.34 FDNB reacts with free amino group to produce dinitrophenyl (DNP) derivative of amino acid.
Similarly, Dansyl chloride reacts with a free amino group of the N-terminal amino acid residue of a peptide in alkaline
solution to form strongly fluorescent derivatives of free amino acids and N-terminal amino acid residue of peptides.
Edman degradation
Edman degradation method for determining the sequence of peptides and proteins from their N-terminus was
developed by Pehr Edman. This chemical method uses phenylisothiocyanate (also termed Edman reagent) for
sequential removal of amino acid residues from the N-terminus of a polypeptide chain.
Polypeptide
R
A1 R
A2 R
A3 R
A4 R
A5
First round
Labeling
R
A1 R
A2 R
A3 R
A4 R
A5
Release
Figure 1.35
R
A1 R
A2 R
A3 R
A4 R
A5
Edman degradation sequentially
Labeling removes one residue at a time from

Second round
the amino end of a peptide. The labeled

R
A2 R
A3 R
A4 R
A5 amino-terminal residue (R1) can be released
without hydrolyzing the rest of the peptide
Release
bonds. Hence, the amino-terminal residue
of the shortened peptide (R2R3R4R5)
R
A2 R
A3 R
A4 R
A5
can be determined in the second round.
34
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trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase, thermolysin and pepsin. Various other chemicals also cleave polypeptide chains at
specific locations. The most widely used is cyanogen bromide (CNBr), which cleaves peptide bond at C-terminal of
Met residues. Similarly hydroxylamine cleaves the polypeptide chain at Asn-Gly sequences.
Table 1.8 Specificities of proteolytic enzymes.
Rn1 O Rn O
NH CH C NH CH C
Agents Site of Cleavage

Trypsin Carboxyl side of Lys or Arg, Rn Pro
Chymotrypsin Carboxyl side of aromatic amino acid residues, Rn Pro
Pepsin Amino side of aromatic amino acids like Tyr, Phe and Trp, Rn1 Pro
Elastase Carboxyl side of Ala, Gly and Ser, Rn Pro
Carboxypeptidases and aminopeptidases are exopeptidases that remove terminal amino acid residues from C and
N-termini of polypeptides, respectively. Carboxypeptidase A cleaves the C-terminal peptide bond of all amino acid
residues except Pro, Lys and Arg. Carboxypeptidase B is effective only when Arg or Lys are the C-terminal residues.
Carboxypeptidase C acts on any C-terminal residue. Aminopeptidases catalyze the cleavage of amino acids from
the amino terminus of the protein. Aminopeptidase M catalyzes the cleavage of all free N-terminal residues.
Cleavage of disulfide bonds
If protein is made up of two or more polypeptide chains and held together by noncovalent bonds then denaturing
agents, such as urea or guanidine hydrochloride, are used to dissociate the chains from one another. But polypeptide
chains linked by disulfide bonds can be separated by two common methods. These methods are used to break
disulfide bonds and also to prevent their reformation.
Oxidation of disulfide bonds with performic acid produces two cysteic acid residues. Because these cysteic acid side
chains are ionized SO3 groups, electrostatic repulsion prevents S-S recombination. The second method involves
the reduction by -mercaptoethanol or dithiothreitol (Clelands reagent) to form cysteine residues. This reaction is
followed by further modification of the reactive SH groups to prevent reformation of the disulfide bond. Acetylation
by iodoacetate serves this purpose which modifies the SH group.
Protein assays
To determine the amount of protein in an unknown sample is termed as protein assays. The simplest and most
direct assay method for proteins in solution is to measure the absorbance at 280 nm (UV range). Amino acids
containing aromatic side chains (i.e. tyrosine, tryptophan and phenylalanine) exhibit strong UV-light absorption.
Consequently, proteins absorb UV-light in proportion to their aromatic amino acid content and total concentration.
Several colorimetric, reagent-based protein assay techniques have also been developed. Protein is added to the
reagent, producing a color change in proportion to the amount added. Protein concentration is determined by
reference to a standard curve consisting of known concentrations of a purified reference protein. Some most
commonly used colorimetric, reagent-based methods are:
Biuret method : Biuret method is based on the direct complex formation between the peptide bonds of the
protein and Cu2+ ion. This method is not highly sensitive since the complex does not have a
high extinction coefficient.
Folin method : The Folin assay (also called Lowry method) is dependent on the presence of aromatic amino
acids in the protein. First, a cupric/peptide bond complex is formed and then this is enhanced
by a phosphomolybodate complex with the aromatic amino acids.
Bradford method : Bradford method is based on a blue dye (Coomassie Brilliant Blue) that binds to free amino
groups in the side chains of amino acids, especially Lys. This assay is as sensitive as the Folin
assay.
36
1.5 Nucleic acids

Nucleic acid was first discovered by Friedrich Miescher from the nuclei of the pus cells (Leukocytes) from discarded
surgical bandages and called it nuclein. Nuclein was later shown to be a mixture of a basic protein and a phosphorus-
containing organic acid, now called nucleic acid. There are two types of nucleic acids (polynucleotides): ribonucleic
acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
1.5.1 Nucleotides
The monomeric units of nucleic acids are called nucleotides. Nucleic acids therefore are also called polynucleotides.
Nucleotides are phosphate esters of nucleosides and made up of three components:
1. A base that has a nitrogen atom (nitrogenous base)
2. A five carbon sugar
3. An ion of phosphoric acid
Nitrogenous bases
Nitrogenous bases are heterocyclic, planar and relatively water insoluble aromatic molecules. There are two general
types of nitrogenous bases in both DNA and RNA, pyrimidines and purines.
H H
7
C6 5 N C4 5
1N C 3N CH
8
2 CH 2
HC C HC CH
4 N9 6
N H N
3 1
Purine Pyrimidine
Purines
Two different nitrogenous bases with a purine ring (composed of carbon and nitrogen) are found in DNA. The two
common purine bases found in DNA and RNA are adenine (6-aminopurine) and guanine (6-oxy-2-aminopurine).
Adenine has an amino group (NH2) on the C6 position of the ring (carbon at position 6 of the ring). Guanine has an
amino group at the C2 position and a carbonyl group at the C6 position.
Pyrimidines
The two major pyrimidine bases found in DNA are thymine (5-methyl-2,4-dioxypyrimidine) and cytosine (2-oxy-4-
aminopyrimidine) and in RNA they are uracil (2,4-dioxypyrimidine) and cytosine. Thymine contains a methyl group
at the C5 position with carbonyl groups at the C4 and C2 positions. Cytosine contains a hydrogen atom at the C5
position and an amino group at C4. Uracil is similar to thymine but lacks the methyl group at the C5 position. Uracil
is not usually found in DNA. It is a component of RNA.
NH2 O NH2 O O
C C C C C
N N
N C HN C N CH HN CH HN C CH3
CH CH
HC C C C C CH C CH C CH
N H2N N O N O N O N
N H N H H H H
Adenine Guanine Cytosine Uracil Thymine
Sugars
Naturally occurring nucleic acids have two types of pentose sugars: Ribose and deoxyribose sugar. All known
sugars in nucleic acids have the D-stereoisomeric configuration.
42
Ribose sugar is found in RNA. -D-Ribose is a five carbon sugar with a hydroxyl group (OH) on each carbon (the
carbon atoms of the ribose/deoxyribose present in nucleoside/nucleotides are designated with a prime () mark to
distinguish them from the backbone numbering in the bases).
Deoxyribose sugar is found in DNA. The hydroxyl group at 2 position of ribose sugar is replaced by a hydrogen (H).
5 5
HOCH2 OH HOCH2 OH
O O
4 1 4 1
H 3 2 H H 3 2 H
HO OH HO H
b-D-Ribose b-D-2-Deoxyribose
Sugar pucker
Pentose sugar is non-planar. This non-planarity is termed puckering. Pentose ring can be puckered in two basic
conformations: envelope and twisted. In the envelope form, the four carbons of the pentose sugar are nearly
coplanar and the fifth is away from the plane. In twisted form three atoms are coplanar and the other two lie away
on opposite sides of this plane. Twisting the C2 and C3 carbons relative to the other atoms results in twisted forms
of the sugar ring.
Sugar pucker can be endo or exo. C2 or C3 endo pucker means that C2 or C3 are on the same side as the base and
C4-C5 bond. Exo-pucker describes a shift in the opposite direction. Purines show a preference for the C2- endo pucker
conformational type whereas pyrimidines favour C3- endo. In RNA we find predominantly the C3-endo conformation.
5 C N 5 C
3 N
3
O 1
4 4 O 1
2
Envelope form, C3' endo Twisted form, C3' endo and C2' exo
5 C 5 C
N N
2 2
O 1 O
4 4 1
3
3
Envelope form, C2' endo Twisted form, C2' endo and C3' exo
Figure 1.38 Sugar puckers.
Nucleoside
Sugar and nitrogenous base join to form nucleoside. The bond between the sugar and the base is called the
glycosidic bond. This bond is said to be in the (up) configuration with respect to the ribose sugar.
9 1
5 5
HOCH2 b-glycosidic HOCH2 b-glycosidic
O bond O bond
4 1 4 1
H H H H
3 2 H 3 2 H
HO OH HO OH
Figure 1.39 Structure of nucleoside.
43
Table 1.9 Naming nucleosides and nucleotides
Bases
Purines Pyrimidines
Adenine (A) Guanine (G) Cytosine (C) Uracil (U)/Thymine (T)
Nucleosidesin RNA Adenosine Guanosine Cytidine Uridine

in DNA Deoxyadenosine Deoxyguanosine Deoxycytidine Deoxythymidine
Nucleotides in RNA Adenylate Guanylate Cytidylate Uridylate
in DNA Deoxyadenylate Deoxyguanylate Deoxycytidylate Deoxythymidylate
Nucleoside monophosphate AMP GMP CMP UMP/TMP
Nucleoside diphosphate ADP GDP CDP UDP/TDP
Nucleoside triphosphate ATP GTP CTP UTP/TTP
Polynucleotides
Polynucleotides are formed by the condensation of two or more nucleotides. The condensation most commonly
occurs between the alcohol of a 5'-phosphate of one nucleotide and the 3'-hydroxyl of a second, with the elimination
of H2O, forming a phosphodiester bond. All nucleotides in a polynucleotide chain have the same relative orientation.
The formation of phosphodiester bonds in DNA and RNA exhibits directionality. The primary structure of DNA and
RNA (the linear arrangement of the nucleotides) proceeds in the 5'
3' direction. The common representation of the
primary structure of DNA or RNA molecules is to write the nucleotide sequences from left to right synonymous with
the 5'
3' direction as shown below.
5'-pGpApTpC-3'

O Nitrogen base
5' end

O P O CH2 O
O H H
{
H H
O H or OH

O P O
Phosphodiester
bond
O
Nitrogen base
CH2 O
H H
H H
O H or OH

O P O
O
Nitrogen base
CH2 O
H H
H H
OH H or OH
3' end
Figure 1.42 The polynucleotide has a 5' end, which is usually attached to a phosphate, and a 3' end, which is
usually a free hydroxyl group. The backbones of these polynucleotide are formed by 3' to 5' phosphodiester
linkages.
45
1.6.2 Z-DNA
Left-handed Z-DNA has been mostly found in alternating purine-pyrimidine sequences (CG)n and (TG)n.
Z-DNA is thinner (18 ) than B-DNA (20 ), the bases are shifted to the periphery of the helix, and there is only one
deep, narrow groove equivalent to the minor groove in B-DNA. In contrast to B-DNA where a repeating unit is a 1
base pair, in Z-DNA the repeating unit is a 2 base pair. The backbone follows a zigzag path as opposed to a smooth
path in B-DNA. The sugar and glycosidic bond conformations alternate; C2 endo in anti dC and C3 endo in syn dG.
Electrostatic interactions play a crucial role in the Z-DNA formation. Therefore, Z-DNA is stabilized by high salt
concentrations or polyvalent cations that shield interphosphate repulsion better than monovalent cations.
Z-DNA can form in regions of alternating purine-pyrimidine sequence; (GC)n sequences form Z-DNA most easily.
(GT)n sequences also form Z-DNA but they require a greater stabilization energy. (AT)n sequences generally does
not form Z-DNA since it easily forms cruciforms.
Table 1.10 Comparisons of different forms of DNA
Geometry attribute A-form B-form Z-form

Helix sense Right-handed Right-handed Left-handed
Repeating unit 1 bp 1 bp 2 bp
Rotation/bp (Twist angle) 33.6 34.3 60/2
Mean bp/turn 10.7 10.4 12
Base pair tilt 20 6 7
Rise/bp along axis 2.3 3.32 3.8
Pitch/turn of helix 24.6 33.2 45.6
Mean propeller twist +18 +16 0
Glycosidic bond conformation Anti Anti Anti for C, Syn for G
Sugar pucker C3'-endo C2'-endo C:C2'-endo, G:C3'-endo
Diameter 23 20 18
Major groove Narrow and deep Wide and deep Flat
Minor groove Wide and shallow Narrow and deep Narrow and deep
1.6.3 Triplex DNA

In certain circumstances (e.g., low pH), a DNA sequence containing a long segment consisting of a polypurine
strand, hydrogen bonded to a polypyrimidine strand and form a triple helix. The triple helix will be written as
(dT).(dA).(dT) with the third strand in italics. Triple-stranded DNA is formed by laying a third strand into the major
groove of DNA. A third strand makes a hydrogen bond to another surface of the duplex. The third strand pairs in
a Hoogsteen base-pairing scheme. The central strand of the triplex must be purine rich. Thus, triple-stranded
DNA requires a homopurine: homopyrimidine region of DNA. If the third strand is purine rich, it forms reverse
Hoogsteen hydrogen bonds in an antiparallel orientation with the purine strand of the Watson-Crick helix. If the
third strand is pyrimidine rich, it forms Hoogsteen bonds in a parallel orientation with the Watson-Crick-paired
purine strand.
Triple helix can be intermolecular or intramolecular. In the intermolecular Pu.Pu.Py triple helix, the poly-purine
third strand is organized antiparallel with respect to the purine strand of the original Watson-Crick duplex. In the
intermolecular Py.Pu.Py triplex, the polypyrimidine third strand is organized parallel with respect to the purine
strand and the phosphate backbone is positioned.
49
5' 3
Polypyrimidine strand
Polypurine
third strand Polypurine strand
Figure 1.45
Intermolecular Pu.Pu.Py triple
5'
helix. The polypurine third strand
(black colour) is organized antiparallel
with respect to the purine strand of
5' the original double strand DNA.
3
An intramolecular triplex (also referred to as H-DNA) could form within a single homopurine.homopyrimidine
duplex DNA region in the supercoiled DNA. As in intermolecular triplexes, when the third strand is the pyrimidine
strand, it forms Hoogsteen pairs in a parallel fashion with the central purine strand. When the third strand is the
purine strand, it forms reverse Hoogsteen pairs in an antiparallel fashion with the central purine strand.
1.6.4 G-quadruplex
Nucleic acid sequences which are rich in guanine are capable of forming four-stranded structures called
G-quadruplexes (also called G-quartat). These consist of a square arrangement of guanines (a tetrad), stabilized
by Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding. The formation and stability of the G-quadruplexes is a monovalent cation-dependent.
A monovalent cation is presents in the center of the tetrads. G-quadruplexes can be formed of DNA or RNA. They
can be formed from one, two or four separate strands of DNA or RNA. Depending on the direction of the strands or
parts of a strand that form the tetrads, structures may be described as parallel or antiparallel. All parallel quadruplexes
have all guanine glycosidic angles in an anti conformation. Anti-parallel quadruplexes have both syn and anti
conformations.
H
Anti
N N N H N N Anti
N H
N O N
O N
H
+ N H
H M H
H N
O H
N
O
N H N N
N Figure 1.46
N
N N H N Four-stranded structures can arise
Anti H Anti from square arrangement of guanines.
50
1.7 RNA
DNA contains all the information needed to maintain a cells processes, but these precious blueprints never leave
the protected nucleus. How, then, all these data are transmitted to the body of the cell itself where they are put to
use? The answer: by way of RNA.
RNA molecules play essential roles in the transfer of genetic information during protein synthesis and in the control
of gene expression. The diverse functions of RNA molecules in living organisms also include the enzymatic activity
of ribozymes and the storage of genetic information in RNA viruses and viroids. So, RNA may be genetic or non
genetic, catalytic or non-catalytic and coding (mRNA) or noncoding (like tRNA, rRNA).
Thermodynamic stability of RNA structure

Primary structure of RNA refers to the sequence of nucleotides. Secondary structure in RNA is dominated by
Watson-Crick base pairing. This fundamental interaction between bases leads to the formation of double-helical
structures of varying length. In RNA, double-helical tracts are generally short. RNA double helices adopt the A-form
structure, which differs significantly from the canonical B-form adopted by DNA double helices. RNAs secondary
structure is generally more stable than its tertiary structure. Thus, formation of the secondary structure dominates
the process of RNA folding. RNA tertiary structure forms through relatively weak interactions between preformed
secondary structure elements.
RNA duplexes are more stable than DNA duplexes. At physiological pH, denaturation of a double stranded helical
RNA often requires higher temperatures than those required for denaturation of a DNA molecule with a comparable
sequence. However, the physical basis for these differences in thermal stability is not known.
Types of RNA
Within a given cell, RNA molecules are found in multiple copies and in multiple forms. Major RNA classes are
mRNA, rRNA, tRNA, snRNA, SnoRNA, miRNA, XIST, scRNA, siRNA, tmRNA and telomerase RNA. Features of few
major forms of RNA present in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are given below.
mRNA
mRNA (messenger RNA) carries the genetic information copied from DNA in the form of a series of three-base code
words, each of which specifies a particular amino acid. Most of the eukaryotic mRNAs represent only a single gene:
they are monocistronic. mRNAs, which carry sequence coding for several polypeptides are called polycistronic. In
these cases, a single mRNA is transcribed from a group of adjacent genes. Most of the prokaryotic mRNA are
polycistronic.
All mRNAs contain two types of regions. The coding region consists of a series of codons starting with an AUG and
ending with a termination codon. But the mRNA is always longer than the coding region, extra regions are present
at both ends. The untranslated region at the 5 end is described as the leader and untranslated region at the 3 end
is called the trailer. A polycistronic mRNA also contains intercistronic regions. They vary greatly in size. They may
be as long as 30 nucleotides. Eukaryotic mRNA molecules often require extensive processing and transport, while
prokaryotic molecules do not.
tRNA
tRNA is a small, well-characterized RNA molecules with a key role in protein biosynthesis. Transfer RNA is also
known as adaptor RNA. The concept of an adaptor to provide the interface between nucleic acid language and
protein language was introduced by Crick in 1955. tRNAs also participate in nonprotein synthetic processes such as
a primer during reverse transcription in retrovirus life cycles.
tRNA is a single RNA chain of 73-93 nucleotides, present in the cytosol and organelles of all living cells. Holley and
his co-workers determined the first tRNA sequence in 1965. Dictated by their primary sequence, tRNA folds into
cloverleaf-like secondary structures with well-defined stems and loops that make up the acceptor arm, D arm
and loop, anticodon arm and loop, and the T-arm and loop. Regardless of the length of the tRNA, the numbering
of conserved nucleotides remains constant.
58
maintaining the telomeres. They are always associated with specific proteins, and the complexes are referred to as
small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNP) or sometimes as snurps.
snoRNA
snoRNA (small nucleolar RNA) is a class of small RNA molecules that are involved in chemical modifications such as
methylation of rRNAs and other forms of RNA in eukaryotes. snoRNAs form a component in the small nucleolar
ribonucleoprotein (snoRNP), which contains snoRNA and proteins. The snoRNA guides the snoRNP complex to the
modification site of the target RNA gene via sequences in the snoRNA that hybridize to the target site. The proteins
then catalyze modification of the RNA gene.
gRNAs
gRNAs (guide RNA) are RNA genes that function in RNA editing. RNA editing was first reported in the mitochondria
of kinetoplastids, in which mRNAs are edited by inserting or deleting stretches of uridylates (Us). The gRNA forms
part of the editosome and contains sequences that hybridize to matching sequences in the mRNA, to guide the
mRNA modifications.
Small silencing RNAs

Small silencing RNAs are small RNA of ~2030 nucleotides long and make an association with members of the
Argonaute protein family, which they guide to their regulatory targets. After the discovery of the first small silencing
RNA in year 1993, several small RNA classes have been identified which differ in their biogenesis, their modes of
target regulation and in the biological pathways they regulate. The most common examples of these small RNAs
are siRNA (small interfering RNA), miRNA (micro RNA) and piRNA (Piwi-interacting RNA).
miRNAs are endogenous regulatory RNAs which are typically 2025 nucleotides long, and are thought to regulate
the expression of other genes. miRNAs derive from precursor transcripts called primary miRNAs (pri-miRNAs),
which are typically transcribed by RNA polymerase II. The pri-miRNA is processed in the nucleus into a 60-70
nucleotide pre-miRNA by the activity of Drosha, a nuclear enzyme. The pre-miRNA molecule is then actively
transported out of the nucleus into the cytoplasm by exportin protein. The Dicer enzyme, a dsRNA specific RNaseIII
family endonuclease, then cuts pre-miRNA into the mature miRNA.
siRNAs are small RNA molecules of ~21 nucleotides. siRNA duplexes are produced by the Dicer. Out of two strands,
the one that directs silencing of target mRNA is called guide RNA. Whereas the other strand which is ultimately
destroyed, is the passenger strand. Target regulation is mediated by RISC (RNA Induced Silencing Complex).
siRNA may be exo-siRNA and endo siRNA depending on the source of RNA.
tmRNA
tmRNA has a complex structure with tRNA-like and mRNA-like regions. It has currently only been found in bacteria.
tmRNA recognizes ribosomes that have trouble translating or reading an mRNA and stall, leaving an unfinished
protein that may be detrimental to the cell. tmRNA acts like a tRNA first, and then an mRNA that encodes a peptide
tag. The ribosome translates this mRNA region of tmRNA and attaches the encoded peptide tag to the C-terminus
of the unfinished protein. This attached tag targets the protein for destruction or proteolysis.
1.7.1 Alkali-catalyzed cleavage of RNA

Under alkaline conditions, RNA is hydrolyzed rapidly and generates a mixture of 2- and 3 nucleoside monophosphate.
In the presence of a hydroxide ion, the 2-hydroxyl group of the ribose is converted to a 2-alkoxide ion. The
2-alkoxide attacks the 3-phosphodiester group, breaking the 5-3 phosphodiester bond and forming a cyclic
2,3-nucleoside monophosphate. Another hydroxide ion attacks the cyclic 2,3-nucleoside monophosphate, yielding
a mixture of 2-and 3-nucleoside monophosphates. DNA is stable in basic solution because DNA lacks a 2-hydroxyl
group to carry out intramolecule catalysis.
60
A
CH2 O
H H
H H 2-Nucleoside
OH O monophosphate
Cyclic 2,3- nucleoside
monophosphate
O P O
A O

CH2 O
A
Hydrolysis
CH2 O or
H H
H H H H
A
O O
H H H CH2
P O
O O O
H O O H H
O P O Transesterification
+ H H 3-Nucleoside
O HO O OH monophosphate
T T

CH2 O CH2 O O P O

H H H H O
H H H H
O OH O OH
Figure 1.55 Alkali-catalyzed cleavage of RNA.
1.7.2 RNA world hypothesis

The RNA world hypothesis proposes that RNA was actually the first life-form on earth, later developing a cell
membrane around it and becoming the first prokaryotic cell (the phrase RNA World was first used by Walter Gilbert
in 1986). This hypothesis is supported by the RNAs ability to store, transmit, and duplicate genetic information, just
like DNA does and to catalyze chemical reactions, just like protein does. RNA with catalytic activity is termed as
ribozyme. Because RNA can perform the tasks of both genetic materials and enzymes, RNA is believed to have
once been capable of independent life.
1.7.3 RNA as genetic material

Some viruses contain an RNA as genetic material. One of the first experiments that established RNA as the
genetic material in RNA viruses was the reconstitution experiment of H.Fraenkel-Conrat and B.Singer.
Degraded
Protein A
TMV type A RNA A

Infection of
tobacco leaf
Degraded TMV type B

RNA B
TMV type B RNA B
Figure 1.56 Proof that the genetic material of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is RNA, not protein.
61
1.8 Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are polyhydroxy aldehydes or polyhydroxy ketones, or compounds that can be hydrolyzed to them.
In the majority of carbohydrates, H and O are present in the same ratio as in water, hence also called as hydrates
of carbon. Carbohydrates are the most abundant biomolecules on Earth. Carbohydrates are classified into following
classes depending upon whether these undergo hydrolysis and if so on the number of products form:
Monosaccharides are simple carbohydrates that cannot be hydrolyzed further into polyhydroxy aldehyde or ketone
unit.
Oligosaccharides are polymers made up of two to ten monosaccharide units joined together by glycosidic linkages.
Oligosaccharides can be classified as di-, tri-, tetra- depending upon the number of monosaccharides present.
Amongst these the most abundant are the disaccharides, with two monosaccharide units.
Polysaccharides are polymers with hundreds or thousands of monosaccharide units. Polysaccharides are not sweet
in taste hence they are also called non-sugars.
1.8.1 Monosaccharide
Monosaccharides consist of a single polyhydroxy aldehyde or ketone unit. Monosaccharides are the simple sugars,
which cannot be hydrolyzed further into simpler forms and they have a general formula CnH2nOn. Monosaccharides
are colourless, crystalline solids that are freely soluble in water but insoluble in nonpolar solvents. The most
abundant monosaccharide in nature is the D-glucose. Monosaccharides can be further sub classified on the basis of:
The number of the carbon atoms present

Monosaccharides can be named by a system that is based on the number of carbons with the suffix-ose added.
Monosaccharides with four, five, six and seven carbon atoms are called tetroses, pentoses, hexoses and heptoses,
respectively.
System for numbering the carbons : The carbons are numbered sequentially with the aldehyde or ketone group
being on the carbon with the lowest possible number.
1 CHO 6 CHO
H C OH H C OH
2 5
HO C H HO C H
3 4
H C OH H C OH
4 3
H C OH H C OH
5 2
6 CH2OH 1 CH2OH
Correct Incorrect
Presence of aldehydes or ketones groups
Aldoses are monosaccharides with an aldehyde group.

Ketoses are monosaccharides containing a ketone group.
The monosaccharide glucose is an aldohexose; that is, it is a six-carbon monosaccharide (-hexose) containing an
aldehyde group (aldo-). Similarly fructose is a ketohexose; that is, it is a six-carbon monosaccharide (-hexose) and
containing a ketone group (keto-).
Trioses are simplest monosaccharides. There are two trioses dihydroxyacetone and glyceraldehyde.
Dihydroxyacetone is called a ketose because it contains a keto group, whereas glyceraldehyde is called an aldose
because it contains an aldehyde group.
63
H H
C1 O H C1 OH
H C2 OH C2 O
H C3 OH H C3 OH
H H
Glyceraldehyde Dihydroxyacetone
(an aldose) (a ketose)
Figure 1.57 Trioses, the simplest monosaccharides.
Glyceraldehyde has a central carbon (C2) which is chiral or asymmetrical. Chiral molecules such as glyceraldehyde
can exist in two forms or configurations that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. These two forms
are called enantiomers. An enantiomer is identified by its absolute configuration. Glyceraldehyde has two absolute
configurations. When the hydroxyl group attached to the chiral carbon is on the left in a Fischer projection, the
configuration is L; when the hydroxyl group is on the right, the configuration is D.
The absolute configurations of monosaccharide containing more than one chiral centers like hexose are determined
by comparing the configuration at the highest-numbered chiral carbon (the chiral carbon farthest from the aldehyde
group) to the configuration at the single chiral carbon of glyceraldehyde.
1 CHO 1 CHO
H C OH HO C H
2 2
H C OH H C OH
3 3
H H
D-Glyceraldehyde L-Glyceraldehyde
Figure 1.58 The enantiomers of glyceraldehyde. The configuration of groups around the chiral carbon 2
(shown in bold) distinguishes D-glyceraldehyde from L-glyceraldehyde. The two molecules are mirror images
and cannot be superimposed on one another.
All the monosaccharides except dihydroxyacetone contain one or more chiral carbon atoms and thus occur in
optically active isomeric forms. As the number of chiral carbon atoms increases, the number of possible stereoisomers
also increases. The total number of possible isomers can be determined by using Vant Hoffs rule. A compound with
n chiral carbon atom has a maximum of 2n possible stereoisomers.
1.8.2 Epimers
Many common sugars are closely related, differing only by the stereochemistry at a single carbon atom. For
example, D-glucose and D-mannose differ only at carbon 2. Sugars that differ only by the stereochemistry at a
single carbon (other than anomeric carbon) are called epimers. Similarly D-glucose and D-galactose are epimers.
D-mannose and D-galactose are not epimers because their configuration differ at more than one carbon.
64
O-linked glycosidic bond N-linked glycosidic bond
CH2OH CH2OH
C O O C O
O O CH2 CH Ser O NH C CH2 CH Asn
1 1
OH NH OH NH
O H O H
Monosaccharide Monosaccharide
Core protein Core protein
Figure 1.64 Carbohydrate groups are covalently attached to many different proteins to form glycoproteins.
Sugars are attached either to the amide nitrogen atom in the side chain of asparagine (termed an N-linkage)
or to the oxygen atom in the side chain of serine or threonine (termed an O-linkage).
1.8.8 Reducing and non-reducing sugar

Sugars capable of reducing ferric or cupric ion are called reducing sugar. A reducing sugar is any sugar that either
has an aldehyde group or is capable of forming one in solution through isomerisation. This functional group allows
the sugar to act as a reducing agent.
All monosaccharides whether aldoses and ketoses, in their hemiacetal and hemiketal form are reducing sugars. All
disaccharides formed from head to tail condensation are also reducing sugar i.e. disaccharides except sucrose,
trehalose are reducing sugars. All reducing sugars undergo mutarotation in aqueous solution.
Sugars like sucrose, trehalose not capable of reducing ferric or cupric ion are called non-reducing sugar. In
sucrose and trehalose, anomeric carbon becomes involved in a glycosidic bond. So they donot contain free anomeric
carbon atoms. Sucrose and trehalose are therefore not a reducing sugar, and have no reducing end. So it cannot be
oxidized by cupric or ferric ion. In describing disaccharides or polysaccharides, the end of a chain that has a free
anomeric carbon (i.e. is not involved in a glycosidic bond) is commonly called the reducing end of the chain.
1.9 Lipids
Biological lipids are a chemically diverse group of organic compounds which are insoluble or only poorly soluble in
water. They are readily soluble in nonpolar solvents such as ether, chloroform, or benzene. The hydrophobic nature
of lipids is due to the predominance of hydrocarbon chains (CH2CH2CH2) in their structures. Unlike the
proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides, lipids are not polymers.
Functions
Biological lipids have diverse functions. The four general functions of biological lipids have been identified.
They serve as a storage form of metabolic fuel.
They serve as a transport form of metabolic fuel.
They provide the structural components of membranes.
They have protective functions in bacteria, plants, insects, and vertebrates, serving as a part of the outer
coating between the body of the organism and the environment.
Apart from the general functions biological lipids serve as pigments (carotene), hormones (vitamin D derivatives,
sex hormones), signaling molecules (eicosanoids, phosphatidylinositol derivatives), cofactors (vitamin K), detergents
(bile salt) and many other specialized functions.
73
The notation 18:1 denotes a 18 carbons fatty acid with one double bond, whereas 18:2 signifies that there are two
double bonds.
The most commonly used systems for designating the position of double bonds in an unsaturated fatty acid is the
delta () numbering system. For example, cis-9 means that there is a cis double bond between carbon atoms 9
and 10; trans-2 means that there is a trans double bond between carbon atoms 2 and 3. In this nomenclature the
carboxyl carbon is designated carbon 1. For example, palmitoleic acid has 16 carbons and has a double bond
between carbons 9 and 10. It is designated as 16:1:9.
There is an alternative convention for naming polyunsaturated fatty acids. In this convention, number 1 is assigned
to the methyl carbon. This carbon is also designated . The positions of the double bonds are indicated relative to
the carbon.
Essential fatty acids

Mammals lack the enzymes to introduce double bonds at carbon atoms beyond C-9 in the fatty acid chain. Hence,
mammals cannot synthesize linoleate and linolenate. Linoleate and linolenate are the two essential fatty acids. The
term essential means that they must be obtained from the diet because they are required by an organism and
cannot be endogenously synthesized. Fatty acids that can be endogenously synthesized are termed as nonessen-
tial. They are nonessential also in the sense that they do not have to be obligatorily included in the diet.
Melting point of fatty acids

The melting point of fatty acids depend on chain length and degree of unsaturation. The longer the chain length, the
higher the melting point; and the greater the number of double bonds, the lower the melting point. The presence of
double bonds makes unsaturated chain more rigid. As a result, unsaturated chains cannot pack themselves in
crystals efficiently and densely as saturated chain, so, they have lower melting point as compared to saturated
fatty acids. Similarly, the unsaturated fatty acids with cis configuration have lower melting points than the unsaturated
fatty acids with trans configuration.
Problem
Why unsaturated fatty acids have low melting points?
Solution
The presence of double bonds makes unsaturated chain more rigid. As a result, unsaturated chains cannot pack
themselves in crystals efficiently and densely as saturated chain, so, they have lower melting point as compared to
saturated fatty acids.
1.9.2 Triacylglycerol and Wax

Triacylglycerols (also called triglycerides) are triesters of fatty acids and glycerol. They are composed of three fatty
acids and a glycerol molecule. Triacylglycerols are of two types simple and mixed type. Those containing a single
kind of fatty acids are called simple triacylglycerols and with two or more different kinds of fatty acids are called
mixed triacylglycerols. The general formula of triacylglycerol is given below:
O O
16
H2C O C H2C O C R1
O O
18
H C O C H C O C R2
O O
18
H2C O C H2C O C R3
Figure 1.66 General structure of triacylglycerol.
75
Triacylglycerols are nonpolar, hydrophobic in nature and a major form of stored lipids. Because triacylglycerols
have no charge (i.e. the carboxyl group of each fatty acid is joined to glycerol through a covalent bond), they are
sometimes referred to as neutral lipid. Triacylglycerol molecules contain fatty acids of varying lengths, which may
be unsaturated or saturated. Triacylglycerols can be distinguished as fat and oil on the basis of physical state at
room temperature. Fats, which are solid at room temperature, contain a large proportion of saturated fatty acids.
Oils are liquid at room temperature because of their relatively high unsaturated fatty acid content.
Hydrolysis of triacylglycerols with alkalis such as NaOH or KOH is called saponification. Saponification yields salts
of free fatty acids (termed soap) and glycerol. The number of milligrams of KOH required to saponify one-gram of
fat is known as saponification number. The saponification number measures the average molecular weight of fats.
Similarly, the number of grams of iodine that can be added to 100g sample of fat or oil is called iodine number,
which is used to determine the degree of unsaturation (i.e. extent of unsaturation).
Waxes
Natural waxes are typically esters of fatty acids and long chain alcohols. They are formed by esterification of long
chain fatty acids (saturated and unsaturated) and high molecular weight monohydroxy alcohols (C14 to C36).
Waxes are biosynthesized by many plants or animals. The best known animal wax is beeswax. Triacontanoylpalmitate
(an ester of palmitic acid with the alcohol triacontanol) is the major component of beeswax.
CH3(CH2)n C O CH2(CH2)mCH3
CH3(CH2)14 C O CH2 (CH2)28 CH3

Palmitic acid 1-triacontanol
Figure 1.67 The general structure of a wax.
1.9.3 Phospholipids
A phospholipid is an amphipathic molecule constructed from four components: fatty acids, a platform to which the
fatty acids are attached, a phosphate and an alcohol attached to the phosphate. The platform on which phospholipids
are built may be glycerol or sphingosine.
Phosphoglycerides
Phospholipids derived from glycerol are called phosphoglycerides (or glycerophospholipids). A phosphoglyceride
consists of a glycerol molecule, two fatty acids, a phosphate, and an alcohol (e.g. choline). Phosphoglycerides are
the most numerous phospholipid molecules found in cell membranes.
In phosphoglycerides, the hydroxyl groups at C-1 and C-2 of glycerol are esterified to the carboxyl groups of the
two fatty acid chains. The C-3 hydroxyl group of the glycerol backbone is esterified to phosphoric acid. When no
further additions are made, the resulting compound is phosphatidic acid, the simplest phosphoglyceride. Phos-
phatidic acids are found in small amount in most natural systems. The major phosphoglycerides are derived from
phosphatidic acid by the formation of an ester bond between the phosphate group and the hydroxyl group of one of
several alcohols. The common alcohol moieties of phosphoglycerides are serine, ethanolamine, choline, glycerol,
and the inositol. If the alcohol is choline, the phosphoglyceride molecule is called phosphatidylcholine (also referred
to as lecithin) and if serine then it is called phosphotidylserine.
76
1.10 Vitamins
Vitamins are organic compounds required by the body in trace amounts to perform specific cellular functions. They
can be classified according to their solubility and their functions in metabolism. The requirement for any given
vitamin depends on the organisms. Not all vitamins are required by all organisms. Vitamins are not synthesized by
humans, and therefore must be supplied by the diet. Vitamins may be water soluble or fat soluble. Nine vitamins
(thiamines, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, pantothenic acid, folic acid, cobalamin, pyridoxine, and ascorbic acid) are
classified as water soluble, whereas four vitamins (vitamins A, D, E and K) are termed fat-soluble. Except for
vitamin C, the water soluble vitamins are all precursors of coenzymes.
1.10.1 Water-soluble vitamins

Thiamine (vitamin B1)
Thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) is the biologically active form of the vitamin, formed by the transfer of a pyrophosphate
group from ATP to thiamine. Thiamine is composed of a substituted thiazole ring joined to a substituted pyrimidine
by a methylene bridge.
Thiazolium Aminopyrimidine
Reactive H NH2
H NH2 carbon +
S N N
+
S N N AMP
ATP
N CH3
CH3
N CH3
CH3 O
TPP synthetase
O
O P O
H
Thiamine O

O P O

O
Thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP)
Figure 1.74 Structure of thiamine and thiamine pyrophosphate.
TPP serves as a coenzyme in the oxidative decarboxylation of -keto acid, and in the formation or degradation of
-ketols (hydroxy ketones) by transketolase.
Pyruvate
decarboxylase
Pyruvate (a-keto acid) Acetaldehyde + CO2
Transketolase
Xylulose-5-Phosphate + Ribose-5-Phosphate Glyceraldehyde3Phosphate + Sedoheptulose7-Phosphate
Beri-Beri is a severe thiamine-deficiency syndrome found in areas where polished rice is the major component of the
diet.
Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
Riboflavin is a constituent of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). FMN is synthesized
after the addition of phosphate in riboflavin and FAD formed by the transfer of an AMP moiety from ATP to FMN. FMN
and FAD are each capable of reversibly accepting two hydrogen atoms, forming FMNH2 or FADH2. The oxidized form
of the isoalloxazine structure absorbs light around 450 nm. The colour is lost, when the ring is reduced.
82
H
O O
Isoalloxazine
H3C N H3C N N
NH NH 2H
+

N N O N N O 2e N
H3C H3C
CH2 CH2 H
H C OH ADP PPi H C OH FADH2 (Reduced)
ATP ATP
Ribitol H C OH FMN H C OH
H C OH H C OH
CH2OH H2C O P P Adenosine
Riboflavin FAD (Oxidized)
Figure 1.75 Structure and biosynthesis of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD).
Niacin
Niacin, or nicotinic acid, is a substituted pyridine derivative. The biologically active coenzyme forms are nicotinamide
adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and its phosphorylated derivative, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate
(NADP+). Nicotinamide, is a derivative of nicotinic acid that contains an amide instead of a carboxyl group. NAD+
and NADP+ serve as coenzymes in oxidation-reduction reactions in which the coenzyme undergoes reduction of the
pyridine ring by accepting a hydride ion (H). The reduced forms of NAD+ and NADP+ are NADH and NADPH,
respectively.
O O
H H H
NH2
C C
+
N NH2 H NH2
O O

5' 5' + 2e
N N H2C O P O P O CH2 N :
N
O
O O O
H H NADH (Reduced)
1'
H H H
H
OH OH
OH OH
Adenosine
Figure 1.76 Structure of NAD+ (Oxidized).
Deficiency of niacin causes pellagra, a disease involving the skin and central nervous system. The symptoms of
pellagra progress through the three Ds: Dermatitis, Diarrhoea, Dementia, and, if untreated, death.
Biotin
Biotin is a coenzyme in carboxylation reactions, in which it serves as a mobile carboxyl group carrier. Biotin is
covalently bound to the enzyme by an amide linkage between the carboxyl group of its valerate side chain and
the -amino group of an enzyme Lys residue to form a biocytin (alternatively, biotinyllysine) residues.
83
1.11 Enzymes
General features
An enzyme is a biocatalyst that increases the rate of chemical reaction without itself being changed in the overall
process. It is a remarkable molecular device that determines the pattern of chemical transformations. Virtually all
cellular reactions or processes are mediated by enzymes. Enzymes have several properties that make them unique.
Most enzymes are proteins. With the exception of a small group of catalytic RNA molecules, all enzymes are
proteins. Their catalytic activity depends on the integrity of their native protein conformation. If an enzyme is
denatured or dissociated into its subunits, catalytic activity is usually lost.
Enzymes are highly specific. They are highly specialized proteins and have a high degree of specificity for their
substrates.
Enzymes exhibit enormous catalytic power. It increases the rate of a reaction by lowering the activation energy.
It changes only the rate at which equilibrium is achieved; it has no effect on the position of the equilibrium.
Enzymes can be divided into two general classes: simple enzymes, which consist entirely of amino acids and
conjugated enzymes, contains a non-protein group called a cofactor, which is required for biological activity.
Removal of cofactor from a conjugated enzyme leaves only protein component, called an apoenzyme, which
generally is biologically inactive. The complete, biologically active conjugated enzyme (simple enzyme plus cofactor)
is called a holoenzyme. A cofactor can be linked to the protein portion of the enzyme either covalently or non-
covalently. Some cofactors are simple metal ions and other cofactors are complex organic groups, which are also
called coenzymes. Cofactors which are tightly associated with the protein covalently or non-covalently are called
prosthetic group.
Table 1.20 Vitamin B-complex and their coenzyme forms

Vitamin Coenzyme form Reaction or process promoted
Thiamine (B1) Thiamine pyrophosphate Decarboxylation, aldehyde group transfer
Riboflavin (B2) FAD and FMN Redox reaction
Pyridoxine (B6) Pyridoxal phosphate Amino group transfer
+ +
Nicotinic acid (niacin) NAD and NADP Redox reaction
Pantothenic acid (B5) Coenzyme A Acyl group transfer
Biotin Biocytin Carboxylation
Folic acid Tetrahydrofolic acid One-carbon group transfer
Vitamin B12 Deoxyadenosylcobalamin Intramolecular rearrangements
The vitamins in the human diet that are coenzyme precursors are all water soluble vitamins.
Table 1.21 Example of some enzymes and their cofactors

Fe2+ or Fe3+ Cytochrome oxidase, Catalase, Peroxidase, Xanthine oxidase
Cu 2+ Cytochrome oxidase, Lysyl oxidase, Superoxide dismutase
2+
Zn Carbonic anhydrase, Alcohol dehydrogenase, Carboxypeptidase
2+
Mg Hexokinase, Enolase, Glucose-6-phosphatase
2+
Mn Arginase, Enolase, Pyruvate carboxylase
+
K Pyruvate kinase
2+
Ni Urease
Mo Dinitrogenase, Xanthine oxidase
Se Glutathione peroxidase
89
1.11.1 Naming and classification of enzyme

Many enzymes have common names. For example, trypsin, a proteolytic enzyme, is secreted by the pancreas.
Common names provide little information about the reactions that enzymes catalyze. Many enzymes are named
for their substrates and for the reactions that they catalyze, with the suffix-ase added. As for example, ATPase is an
enzyme that helps in breaking down ATP, whereas ATP synthase is an enzyme that helps in synthesis of ATP.
Because of the confusion that arose from these common names, an International Commission on enzymes was
established to create a systematic basis for enzyme nomenclature.
The enzyme commission has developed a rule for naming enzymes. According to this rule, each enzyme is classified
and named according to the type of chemical reaction it catalyzes. The Enzyme Commission (EC) has given each
enzyme a number with four parts, like EC 2.7.1.2 (Hexokinase). The first three numbers define major class,
subclass, and sub-subclass, respectively. The last number is a serial number in the sub-subclass, indicating the
order in which each enzyme is added to the list.
Common name and EC numbers of some enzyme

Alcohol dehydrogenase EC 1.1.1.1
Phosphofructokinase EC 2.7.1.11
Glutamine synthetase EC 6.3.1.2
Acetylcholinesterase EC 3.1.1.7
Systematic classification
The first integer in the EC number designates the class of enzymes. There are six classes to which different
enzymes belong. These classes are:
EC 1 Oxidoreductase
Oxidoreductase catalyzes oxidation-reduction reactions.
Ared + Box Aox + Bred
Example
Oxidases Use oxygen as an electron acceptor but do not incorporate it into the substrate.
Dehydrogenases Use molecules other than oxygen (e.g. NAD+) as an electron acceptor.
Oxygenases Directly incorporate oxygen into the substrate.
Peroxidases Use H2O2 as an electron acceptor.
EC 2 Transferases
Transferases catalyze reactions that involve the transfer of groups from one molecule to another. Examples of such
groups include amino, carboxyl, carbonyl, methyl, phosphoryl and acyl (RC=O). Common trivial names for the
transferases often include the prefix trans.
AB + C A + BC
Examples
Transcarboxylases Transfers a carboxylate group to a substrate.
Transaminases Transfer amino group from amino acids to keto acids.
Kinases Transfer phosphate from ATP to a substrate.
Phosphorylases Transfer inorganic phosphate to a substrate.
EC 3 Hydrolases
Hydrolases catalyze reactions in which the cleavage of bonds is accomplished by adding water.
AB + H2O AH + BOH
90
Chapter 02
2.1 Bioenergetics
Bioenergetics is the quantitative study of the energy transductions that occur in living cells and of the nature and
functions of the chemical processes underlying these transductions.
Thermodynamic principles
The First law of thermodynamics states that the energy is neither created nor destroyed, although it can be
transformed from one form to another i.e. the total energy of a system, including surroundings, remains constant.
Mathematically, it can be expressed as:

U = q w
U is the change in internal energy,
q is the heat exchanged from the surroundings,
w is the work done by the system.
If q is positive, heat has been transferred to the system, giving an increase in internal energy. When q is
negative, heat has been transferred to the surroundings, giving a decrease in internal energy. When w is positive,
work has been done by the system, giving a decrease in internal energy. When w is negative, work has been done
by the surroundings, giving an increase in internal energy.
The Second law of thermodynamics states that the total entropy of a system must increase if a process is to occur
spontaneously. Mathematically, it can be expressed as:
Dq
DS where, S is the change in entropy of the system
T
Entropy is unavailable form of energy and it is very difficult to determine it, so a new thermodynamic term called
free energy is defined.
Free energy
Free energy or Gibbs free energy indicates the portion of the total energy of a system that is available for useful
work (also known as chemical potential). The change in free energy is denoted as G.
Under constant temperature and pressure, the relationship between free energy change (G) of a reacting system
and the change in entropy (S) is expressed by following equation:
G = H TS
Where, H is the change in enthalpy and T is absolute temperature. H is the measure of change in heat content of
reactants and products. The change in the free energy, G, can be used to predict the direction of a reaction at
constant temperature and pressure.
117
If G is negative, the reaction proceeds spontaneously with the loss of free energy (exergonic),
G is positive, the reaction proceeds only when free energy can be gained (endergonic),
G is 0, the system is at equilibrium; both forward and reverse reactions occur at equal rates,
G of the reaction A B depends on the concentration of reactant and product. At constant temperature and
pressure, the following relation can be derived:
[B]
G = G0 + RT ln
[A]
Where, G0 is the standard free energy change;
R is the gas constant;
T is the absolute temperature;
[A] and [B] are the actual concentrations of reactant and product.
Standard free energy change

The actual change in free energy (G) during a reaction is influenced by temperature, pressure and the initial
concentrations of reactants and products, and usually differs from standard free energy change, G0.
The chemical reaction has a characteristic standard free energy change and it is constant for a given reaction. It
can be calculated from the equilibrium constant of the reaction under standard conditions i.e., at a solute concentration
of 1.0M, at temperature of 25C and at 1.0 atm pressure. The free energy change which corresponds to this
standard state is known as standard free energy change, G0.
Relationship between G0 and Keq
In a reaction A B, a point of equilibrium is reached at which no further net chemical change takes placethat is,
when A is being converted to B, B is also being converted to A, as fast as A into B. In this state, the ratio of [B] to
[A] is constant, regardless of the actual concentrations of the two compounds:
[B]eq
K eq =
[A]eq
where Keq is the equilibrium constant, and [A]eq and [B]eq are the concentrations of A and B at equilibrium. The
concentration of reactants and products at equilibrium define the equilibrium constant, Keq. The equilibrium constant
Keq depends on the nature of reactants and products, the temperature and the pressure. Under standard physical
conditions (25C and 1 atm pressure, for biological systems), the Keq is always the same for a given reaction,
whether or not a catalyst is present.
If the reaction A B is allowed to go to equilibrium at constant temperature and pressure, then at equilibrium
the overall free energy change (G) is zero. Therefore,
[B]eq
G0 = RT ln
[A]eq
So, G0 = RT ln Keq
This equation allows some simple predictions:
Keq G 0 Reaction
> 1.0 Negative proceeds forward
1.0 Zero is at equilibrium
< 1.0 Positive proceeds in reverse
As we know, the ionic composition of an acid or base varies with pH. So, the standard free energy calculated
according to the biochemistry convention is valid only at pH=7. Hence, under biochemistry convention, G0 is
symbolized by G0 and likewise, the biochemical equilibrium constant is represented by Keq.
SoG0 = RT ln Keq
118
2.2 Metabolism
Metabolism (derives from the Greek word for change) is a series of interconnected chemical reactions occurring
within a cell; the chemical compounds involved in this process are known as metabolites. It consists of hundreds of
enzymatic reactions organized into discrete pathways. These pathways proceed in a stepwise manner, transforming
substrates into end products through many specific chemical intermediates. Each step of metabolic pathways is
catalyzed by a specific enzyme.
Reaction 1 Reaction 2 Reaction 3

A B C D
Enzyme 1 Enzyme 2 Enzyme 3
Starting Product
molecule
Metabolic pathways can be linear (such as glycolysis), cyclic (such as the citric acid cycle) or spiral (such as the
biosynthesis of fatty acids). Metabolism serves two fundamentally different purposes: generation of energy to drive
vital functions and the synthesis of biological molecules. To achieve these, metabolic pathways fall into two catego-
ries: anabolic and catabolic pathways. Anabolic pathways are involved in the synthesis of compounds and ender-
gonic in nature. Catabolic pathways are involved in the oxidative breakdown of larger complex molecules and
usually exergonic in nature. The basic strategy of catabolic metabolism is to form ATP and reducing power for
biosyntheses. Some pathways can be either anabolic or catabolic, depending on the energy conditions in the cell.
They are referred to as amphibolic pathways. Amphibolic pathways occur at the crossroads of metabolism, acting
as links between the anabolic and catabolic pathways, e.g. the citric acid cycle.
Characteristics of metabolic pathways are:

1. They are irreversible.
2. Each one has a first committed step.
3. Those in eukaryotic cells occur in specific cellular locations.
4. They are regulated. Regulation occurs in following different ways:
I. Availability of substrate; the rate of reaction depends on substrate concentration.
II. Allosteric regulation of enzymes by a metabolic intermediate or coenzyme.
III. By extracellular signal such as growth factors and hormones that act from outside the cell in multicellular
organisms; changes the cellular concentration of an enzyme by altering the rate of its synthesis or degradation.
A number of central metabolic pathways are common to most cells and organisms. These pathways, which serve
for synthesis, degradation, interconversion of important metabolites, and energy conservation, are referred to as
the intermediary metabolism.
Metabolic pathways involve several enzyme-catalyzed reactions. Most of the reactions in living cells fall into one of
five general categories: oxidation-reductions; reactions that make or break carboncarbon bonds; group transfers;
internal rearrangements, isomerizations and eliminations; and free radical reactions.
Feedback inhibition and feedback repression

In feedback inhibition (or end product inhibition), the end product of a biosynthetic pathway inhibits the activity of
the first enzyme that is unique to the pathway, thus controlling production of the end product. The first enzyme in
the pathway is an allosteric enzyme. Its allosteric site will bind to the end product of the pathway which alters its
active site so that it cannot mediate the enzymatic reaction.
The feedback inhibition is different from feedback repression. An inhibitory feedback system in which the end
product produced in a metabolic pathway acts as a co-repressor and represses the synthesis of an enzyme that
is required at an earlier stage of the pathway is called feedback repression.
122
2.3 Respiration
Living cells require an input of free energy. Energy is required for the maintenance of highly organized structures,
synthesis of cellular components, movement, generation of electrical currents and for many other processes. Cells
acquire free energy from the oxidation of organic compounds that are rich in potential energy.
Respiration is an oxidative process, in which free energy released from organic compounds is used in the formation
of ATP. The compounds that are oxidized during the process of respiration are known as respiratory substrates,
which may be carbohydrates, fats, proteins or organic acids. Carbohydrates are most commonly used as respiratory
substrates.
During oxidation within a cell, all the energy contained in respiratory substrates is not released free in a single step.
Free energy is released in multiple steps in a controlled manner and used to synthesise ATP, which is broken down
whenever (and wherever) energy is needed. Hence, ATP acts as the energy currency of the cell.
During cellular respiration, respiratory substrates such as glucose may undergo complete or incomplete oxidation.
The complete oxidation of substrates occurs in the presence of oxygen, which releases CO2, water and a large
amount of energy present in the substrate. A complete oxidation of respiratory substrates in the presence of
oxygen is termed as aerobic respiration.
Although carbohydrates, fats and proteins can all be oxidized as fuel, but here processes have been described by
taking glucose as a respiratory substrate. Oxidation of glucose is an exergonic process. An exergonic reaction
proceeds with a net release of free energy. When one mole of glucose (180 g) is completely oxidized into CO2 and
water, approximately 2870 kJ or 686 kcal energy is liberated. Part of this energy is used for synthesis of ATP. For
each molecule of glucose degraded to carbon dioxide and water by respiration, the cell makes up to about 30 or 32
ATP molecules, each with 7.3 kcal/mol of free energy.
C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy (ATP + Heat)
The incomplete oxidation of respiratory substrates occurs under anaerobic conditions i.e. in the absence of oxygen.
As the substrate is never totally oxidized, the energy generated through this type of respiration is lesser than that
during aerobic respiration.
2.3.1 Aerobic respiration

Enzyme catalyzed reactions during aerobic respiration can be grouped into three major processes: glycolysis, citric
acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. Glycolysis takes place in the cytosol of cells in all living organisms. The
citric acid cycle takes place within the mitochondrial matrix of eukaryotic cells and in the cytosol of prokaryotic
cells. The oxidative phosphorylation takes place in the inner mitochondrial membrane. However, in prokaryotes,
oxidative phosphorylation takes place in the plasma membrane.
Table 2.3 Intracellular location of major processes of aerobic respiration

In eukaryotes,
Glycolysis Cytosol
Citric acid cycle Mitochondrial matrix
Oxidative phosphorylation Inner mitochondrial membrane
In prokaryotes,
Glycolysis Cytosol
Citric acid cycle Cytosol
Oxidative phosphorylation Plasma membrane
123
2.3.2 Glycolysis
Glycolysis (from the Greek glykys, meaning sweet, and lysis, meaning splitting) also known as Embden-Meyerhof
pathway, is an oxidative process in which one mole of glucose is partially oxidized into the two moles of pyruvate
in a series of enzyme-catalyzed reactions. Glycolysis occurs in the cytosol of all cells. It is a unique pathway that
occurs in both aerobic as well as anaerobic conditions and does not involve molecular oxygen.
6 CH2OH
5 O
Glucose (G) 4
OH
1
3 2
HO OH
2+ ATP
Hexokinase, Mg OH
1
DG (kJ/mol) = 16.7 ADP CH2OP
O
Glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) OH
HO OH
Preparatory phase (Energy investment phase)
Phosphoglucoisomerase OH
2
DG (kJ/mol) = +1.7
POH2C O CH2OH
Fructose-6-phosphate (F6P) HO
OH
2+ ATP
Phosphofructokinase, Mg OH
3
DG (kJ/mol) = 14.2 ADP

POH2C O CH2OP
Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP)
HO
OH
2+
Aldolase, Zn OH
4
DG (kJ/mol) = +23.9
OH
Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P) POH2C CH CHO
Triose phosphate isomerase

5
DG (kJ/mol) = +7.6
O
Dihydroxyacetone phosphate HOH2C C CH2OP
Step 1 : (Phosphorylation) Glucose is phosphorylated by ATP to form a glucose 6-phosphate. The negative
charge of the phosphate prevents the passage of the glucose 6-phosphate through the plasma membrane, trapping
glucose inside the cell. This irreversible reaction is catalyzed by hexokinase. Hexokinase is present in all cells of all
organisms. Hexokinase requires divalent metal ions such as Mg2+ or Mn2+ for activity. Hepatocytes and -cells of
the pancreas also contain a form of hexokinase called glucokinase (hexokinase D). Hexokinase and glucokinase
are isozymes. Glucokinase is present in liver and beta-cells of the pancreas and has a high Km and Vmax as
compared to hexokinase.
Step 2 : (Isomerization) A readily reversible rearrangement of the chemical structure (isomerization) moves the
carbonyl oxygen from carbon 1 to carbon 2, forming a ketose from an aldose sugar. Thus, the isomerization of
glucose 6-phosphate to fructose 6-phosphate is a conversion of an aldose into a ketose.
124
Solution
a. Inhibition of NADH dehydrogenase by rotenone decreases the rate of electron flow through the respiratory
chain, which in turn decreases the rate of ATP production. If this reduced rate is unable to meet the organisms
ATP requirements, the organism dies.
b. Antimycin A strongly inhibits the oxidation of Q in the respiratory chain, reducing the rate of electron transfer
and leading to the consequences described in (a).
c. Because antimycin A blocks all electron flow to oxygen, it is a more potent poison than rotenone, which blocks
electron flow from NADH, but not from FADH2.
2.3.8 Electrochemical proton gradient

Transfer of electrons through the electron transport chain is accompanied by pumping of protons across inner
mitochondrial membrane, from the mitochondrial matrix to inter mitochondrial space. A total of 10H+ ions are
translocated from the matrix across the inner mitochondrial membrane per electron pair flowing from NADH to O2.
This movement of H+ generates:
a. pH gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane (with the pH higher in the matrix than in the inter
mitochondrial space).
b. Voltage gradient (membrane potential) across the inner mitochondrial membrane (with the inside negative
and outside positive).
The pH gradient (pH) and voltage gradient together constitute electrochemical proton gradient. The electrochemical
proton gradient exerts a proton motive force (pmf). A mitochondrion actively involved in aerobic respiration
typically has a membrane potential of about 160 mV (negative inside matrix) and a pH gradient of about 1.0 pH unit
(higher on the matrix side). A difference of one pH unit represents a tenfold difference in H+ concentration and a pH
gradient of one unit across a membrane is equivalent to an electric potential of 59 mV (at 20C). The total proton-
motive force across the inner mitochondrial membrane consists of a large force due to the membrane potential and
a smaller force due to the H+ concentration gradient (pH gradient). In a typical cell, the proton motive force across
the inner mitochondrial membrane of a respiring mitochondrion is about 220 mV.
Determination of electric potential and pH gradient

Because mitochondria are very small, the electric potential and pH gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane
cannot be determined by direct measurement. However, the inside pH can be measured by trapping fluorescent
pH-sensitive dyes inside vesicles formed from the inner mitochondrial membrane.
Similarly, the electric potential can be determined by adding radioactive K+ ions and a trace amount of valinomycin
to a suspension of respiring mitochondria. Valinomycin is an ionophore. Although the inner membrane is normally
impermeable to K+ ions, but valinomycin selectively binds K+ ions in its hydrophilic interior and carries it across
through the impermeable membranes. In the presence of valinomycin, K+ ions equilibrates across the inner membrane
of isolated mitochondria in accordance with the electric potential; the more negative the matrix side of the membrane,
140
Experimental proof of chemiosmotic hypothesis

Experimental proof of chemiosmotic hypothesis was provided by Andre Jagendorf and Ernest Uribe in 1966. In an
elegant experiment, isolated chloroplast thylakoid vesicles containing F0F1 particles were equilibrated in the dark
with a buffered solution at pH 4.0. When the pH in the thylakoid lumen became 4.0, the vesicles were rapidly mixed
with a solution at pH 8.0 containing ADP and Pi. A burst of ATP synthesis accompanied the transmembrane movement
of protons driven by the electrochemical proton gradient. In similar experiments using inside-out preparations of
submitochondrial vesicles, an artificially generated membrane electric potential also resulted in ATP synthesis.
Thylakoid membrane
pH=7 pH=4 pH=4
CF0 CF1 ATPase

pH=7 pH=4 pH=8
ADP+Pi ATP
+
H
Figure 2.15 Synthesis of ATP by F0F1 depends on a pH gradient across the membrane.
2.3.10 ATP synthase

The use of proton motive force for ATP synthesis is catalyzed by ATP synthase. The multiprotein ATP synthase or
F0F1 complex or complex V catalyzes ATP synthesis as protons flow back through the inner membrane down the
electrochemical proton gradient. It consists of two components F0 component and F1 ATPase. The F0 component
is embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane. F0 contains one a subunit, two b subunits and 912 c
subunits. The c subunit consists of two helices that span the membrane. An aspartic acid residue in the second
helix lies on the center of the membrane. F0 is a transmembrane complex that forms a regulated H+ channel. An
antibiotic oligomycin completely blocks ATP synthesis by blocking the flow of protons through F0 of ATP synthase
(subscript O denotes its inhibition by antibiotic oligomycin). F1 ATPase (made up of 3, 3, , and ) is tightly
bound to F0 and protrudes into the matrix; it contains three -subunits that are the sites of ATP synthesis. At the
center of F1 ATPase is the -subunit. The -subunit extends through F1 and interacts with F0. The and C912 ring
complex is the rotor (moving unit) and the a, b2 and 33 complex is the stator (stationary unit). Rotational motion
is imparted to the rotor by the passage of protons.
d
a b a b
F1 ATPase
Matrix
g
b e
Inner
mitochondrial F0
a
membrane c c c c cc
+
Intermitochondrial H
space
Figure 2.16 The enzyme complex consists of an F0 component and F1 ATPase. Proton passing through the
disc of C units cause it and the attached -subunit to rotate. The -subunit fits inside the F1 ATPase of a three
and three -subunits, which are fixed to the membrane and do not rotate.
142
The three F1 subunits alternate between three conformational states that differ in their binding affinities for ATP,
ADP and Pi :
An O state (open state) that binds ATP, ADP and Pi very weakly.
An L state (loose state) that binds ADP and Pi loosely.
A T state (tight state) that binds ADP and Pi very tightly and gives ATP.
The phosphoanhydride bond of ATP is synthesized only in the T state and ATP is released only in the O state. The
free energy released on proton translocation is harnessed to interconvert three states. Change in conformations
occur due to rotation of -subunit. A 120 rotation of -subunit in counterclockwise direction changes one conformation
state to another. Rotation of -subunit relative to fixed 33 occurs in discrete 120 steps and conformation of each
-subunit changes in the order: O L T O.
Calculation of free energy change

The standard free energy change for the movement of protons across the membrane along the electrochemical
proton gradient can be calculated from the Nernst equation:
G (cal/mol) = nFE
We can calculate the amount of free energy released by the passage of one mole of protons down an electrochemical
gradient of 220 mV from the above equation.
G = nFE; where, n = 1.
= 23,062 0.22 V = 5074 cal/mol or 5.1 kcal/mol
The most widely accepted experimental value for the number of protons required to drive the synthesis of one ATP
molecule is four. Hence, if 10 protons are pumped out per NADH, four must flow in to produce one ATP, the proton-
based P/O ratio (the ratio of ATP synthesized to oxygen reduces to water molecules) is 2.5 for NADH (1.5 for FADH2).
2.3.11 Uncoupling agents and ionophores

Uncoupling agents uncouple oxidation from phosphorylation. They allow the oxidation of NADH and FADH2 and
reduction of O2 to continue at high levels but do not permit ATP synthesis. Thus, electron transport continues
unabated, but ATP synthesis stops. Most common uncoupling agents are 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), dicoumarol and
carbonyl cyanide-p-(trifluoromethoxy) phenylhydrazone (FCCP). DNP is a weak acid that is soluble in lipid bilayer
both in their protonated neutral forms and in their anionic states. DNP in an anionic state picks up protons in the
inter-mitochondrial space and diffuse readily across mitochondrial membranes. After entering the matrix in the
protonated form, they can release a proton, thus dissipating the proton gradient and inhibiting ATP synthesis. The
energy relased by the oxidation of NADH in the presence of DNP is converted to heat. Dicoumarol and FCCP act in
the same way. Similarly, thermogenin is a physiological uncoupler found in brown adipose tissue that functions to
generate body heat, particularly for the new born and during hibernation in animals.
Ionophores are lipophilic molecules that bind specific cations and facilitate their transport through the membrane.
Ionophore uncouple electron transfer from oxidative phosphorylation by dissipating the electrochemical gradient
across the mitochondrial membrane. Valinomycin, an antibiotic, is an example of ionophore. Its addition makes
inner mitochondrial membrane permeable for K+. It causes the movement of K+ along the concentration gradient
from cytosol into the matrix. It decreases the memberane potential component of pmf (without a direct effect on
the pH gradient) and thus ATP synthesis.
2.3.12 ATP-ADP exchange across the inner mitochondrial membrane

The major function of oxidative phosphorylation is to generate ATP from ADP and Pi. Most of the ATP generated by
oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria is exported to the cytoplasm. Thus mitochondria must contain mechanisms
to export ATP and import ADP and Pi. However, ATP and ADP do not diffuse freely across the inner mitochondrial
membrane. A specific transport protein, ATP-ADP translocase (also called adenine nucleotide translocase), which
acts as an antiporter, mediates the transport of ATP and ADP. ADP enters the mitochondrial matrix only if ATP exits,
144
and vice versa. Because ATP-ADP translocase moves four negative charges out of every three moved in, its
activity is favoured by the transmembrane electrochemical proton gradient, which gives the matrix a net negative
charge. ATP-ADP translocase function is inhibited by a toxic glycoside atractyloside. ATP-ADP exchange is energetically
expensive; proton-motive force across the inner mitochondrial membrane powers the exchange. A second membrane
transport system is the phosphate translocase, which promotes symport of one H2PO42 and one H+ into the matrix.
This transport process is also powered by the transmembrane proton gradient.
Inner mitochondrial membrane
+++++

Phosphate
translocase
+
Matrix H

H2PO42
3
ADP
ATP-ADP
translocase
4
ATP
Figure 2.19 The phosphate and ATP/ADP translocase system in the inner mitochondrial membrane.
2.3.13 Shuttle systems

The glycolytic pathway is a primary source of NADH formation. NADH synthesized during the glycolytic process
finally transfers the electrons to electron transport chain. But, NADH cannot cross the inner mitochondrial membrane.
So, two different shuttle systems help in the transfer of electrons from NADH to the electron transport chain.
The malate-aspartate shuttle is the principal mechanism for the movement of NADH from the cytoplasm into the
mitochondrial matrix. The electrons are carried into the mitochondrial matrix in the form of malate. Cytoplasmic
malate dehydrogenase reduces oxaloacetate to malate while oxidizing NADH to NAD+. Malate then enters the
mitochondrial matrix, where the reverse reaction is carried out by mitochondria malate dehydrogenase and the
regeneration of NADH occurs.
NADH
Oxaloacetate
+
NAD
Malate Asp
Matrix
Malate Cytosol Asp
+
NAD
Oxaloacetate
NADH
Figure 2.20 The malate-aspartate shuttle for transporting NADH from cytosol into the mitochondrial matrix.
NADH in the cytosol transfers electrons to oxaloacetate, producing malate. Malate is transported across the
inner membrane by the help of transporter. In the matrix, malate passes electrons to NAD+; the resulting
matrix NADH is finally oxidized by the mitochondrial respiratory chain.
145
integrity requires a plentiful supply of reduced glutathione (GSH), a Cys-containing tripeptide (-glutamyl-
cysteinylglycine). A major function of GSH in the erythrocyte is to eliminate H2O2 and organic hydroperoxides.
H2O2, a toxic product of various oxidative processes, reacts with double bonds in the fatty acid residues of the
erythrocyte cell membrane to form organic hydroperoxides. These, in turn, result in premature cell lysis. Peroxides
are eliminated through the action of glutathione peroxidase, yielding glutathione disulfide (GSSG). So, G6PD deficiency
results in hemolytic anemia caused by the inability to detoxify oxidizing agents.
Pentose NADPH GSSG 2H2O

Phosphate
Pathway Glutathione Glutathione
Reductase Peroxidase
+
2H NADP 2GSH H2O2
Figure 2.30 Role of the pentose phosphate pathway in the reduction of oxidized glutathione.
2.6 Entner-Doudoroff pathway

Entner-Doudoroff pathway is an alternative pathway that catabolizes glucose to pyruvate using a set of enzymes
different from those used in either glycolysis or the pentose phosphate pathway. This pathway, first reported by
Michael Doudoroff and Nathan Entner, occurs only in prokaryotes, mostly in gram-negative bacteria such as
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Azotobacter, Rhizobium.
In this pathway, glucose phosphate is oxidized to 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconic acid (KDPG) which is cleaved
by 2-keto-3-deoxyglucose-phosphate aldolase to pyruvate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. The latter is oxidized
to pyruvate by glycolytic pathway where in two ATPs are produced by substrate level phosphorylations. This
process yields one ATP as well as one NADH and one NADPH for every glucose molecule.

COO COO O O

H C OH C O CH3 C C O
6 CH2OH CH2OP
5 O ATP ADP O NADP NADPH HO C H H2O H C H Pyruvate
4 1
OH OH H C OH H C OH
3 2
HO OH HO OH
OH
OH OH H C OH H C OH
POH2C CH CHO
CH2O P CH2O P
Glucose Glucose-6-phosphate
6-Phosphogluconate Glyceraldehyde-3-
2-Keto-3-deoxy-
phosphate
6-phosphogluconate
+
NAD
2 ADP
NADH
2 ATP
Pyruvate
Figure 2.31 Entner-Doudoroff pathway.
2.7 Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a physiochemical process by which photosynthetic organisms convert light energy into chemical
energy in the form of reducing power (as NADPH) and ATP, and use these chemicals to drive carbon dioxide
fixation.
154
Sun
Light reaction
ATP + NADPH
CO2 Calvin cycle Triose phosphate Glucose
Figure 2.32 Photosynthesis is a two stage process. The first process is a light dependent one (light reactions)
that requires the direct energy of light to make energy carrier molecules that are used in the second process.
The calvin cycle (light independent process) occurs when the products of the light reaction are used in the
formation of carbohydrate.
On the basis of generation of oxygen during photosynthesis, the photosynthetic organisms may be oxygenic or
anoxygenic. Oxygenic photosynthetic organisms include both eukaryotes as well as prokaryotes whereas anoxygenic
photosynthetic organisms include only prokaryotes.
Oxygenic photosynthetic organisms

Eukaryotes Plants and Photosynthetic protists
Prokaryotes Cyanobacteria
Anoxygenic photosynthetic organisms

Prokaryotes Green and purple photosynthetic bacteria
In oxygenic photosynthetic organisms, photosynthetic oxygen generation occurs via the light-dependent oxidation
of water to molecular oxygen. This can be written as the following simplified chemical reaction:
nCO2 + nH2O (CH2O)n + nH2O + nO2
2.7.1 Photosynthetic pigment

The solar energy required for photosynthesis is captured by photosynthetic pigment molecules. Different types of
pigments, described as photosynthetic pigment, participate in this process. The major photosynthetic pigment is
the chlorophyll.
Chlorophylls
Chlorophyll, a light-absorbing green pigment, contains a polycyclic, planar tetrapyrrole ring structure. Chlorophyll
is a lipid soluble pigment. It has the following important features:
1. The central metal ion in chlorophyll is Mg2+.
2. Chlorophyll has a cyclopentanone ring (ring V) fused to pyrrole ring III.
3. The propionyl group on a ring IV of chlorophyll is esterified to a long-chain tetraisoprenoid alcohol. In chlorophyll
a and b it is phytol.
155
R1 R2
3
H3C I II 4 R3
N N
Mg
N N
IV III CH3
H3C
R1 R2 R3
V
CH2 Chlorophyll a CH CH2 CH3 CH2CH3
CH2 O Chlorophyll b CH CH2 CHO CH2CH3

C O
O C O CH3
O
H2C
Phytyl side chain
Figure 2.33 Chlorophyll structures. Chlorophyll is composed of two parts; the first is a porphyrin ring with
magnesium at its center, the second is a hydrophobic phytol tail. The tail is a 20 carbon chain that is highly
hydrophobic.
Table 2.8 Differences between Chlorophyll a and Chlorophyll b

Chlorophyll a Chlorophyll b
1. It is C55H72O5N4Mg. 1. It is C55H70O6N4Mg.
2. In the pure state, chlorophyll a is blue-green. 2. In the pure state, chlorophyll b is olive-green.
3. It is an essential photosynthetic pigment. 3. It is accessory photosynthetic pigment.
4. Pyrrole ring II contains methyl (CH3) group. 4. Pyrrole ring II contains aldehyde (CHO) group.
5. It absorbs more red wavelengths than violet- 5. It absorbs more violet-blue wavelength than red
blue wavelength of light. wavelength of light.
Oxygenic photosynthetic organisms contain different types of chlorophyll molecules like Chl a, Chl b, Chl c and Chl d.
These chlorophyll molecules differ by having different substituent groups on the tetrapyrrole ring. Anoxygenic
photosynthetic organisms contain bacteriochlorophyll molecules. They are related to chlorophyll molecules. Different
groups of anoxygenic photosynthetic organisms contain different types of bacteriochlorophyll: BChl a, BChl b, BChl c,
BChl d and BChl e. Bacteriochlorophyll molecules absorb light at longer wavelengths as compared to chlorophyll
molecules.
Accessory pigments
Besides the major light-absorbing chlorophyll molecules, there are two groups of accessory pigments which absorb
light in the wavelength region, where chlorophylls do not absorb strongly. The two types of accessory pigments are
carotenoids and phycobilins.
Carotenoids are long-chain, conjugated hydrocarbons containing a string of isoprene residues and distinguished
from one another by their end groups. They are generally C40 terpenoid compounds formed by the condensation of
eight isoprene units. Carotenoids are lipid soluble pigments and can be subdivided into two classes, xanthophylls
(which contain oxygen) and carotenes (which are purely hydrocarbons, and contain no oxygen). The characteristic
156
Glycogen storage diseases
Glycogen storage diseases are caused by a genetic deficiency of one or another of the enzymes of glycogen
metabolism. Many diseases have been characterized that result from an inherited deficiency of the enzyme.
These defects are listed in the table.
Table 2.17 Glycogen storage diseases

Name Enzyme deficiency
Von Gierkes disease Liver glucose-6-phosphatase
Pompes disease Lysosomal 1 4 and 1 6 glucosidase (acid maltase)
Hers disease Liver phosphorylase
Taruis disease Muscle and erythrocyte phosphofructokinase 1
McArdles disease Muscle glycogen phosphorylase
Andersens disease Amylo (1,4 1,6) transglycosylase (Branching enzyme)
2.10 Lipid metabolism

2.10.1 Synthesis and storage of triacylglycerols
All animals and plants have the ability to synthesize triacylglycerol (TAG). In animals, many cell types and organs
have the ability to synthesise triacylglycerols, but the liver and intestines are most active. Within all cell types, even
those of the brain, triacylglycerols are stored as cytoplasmic lipid droplets (also termed fat globules, oil bodies, lipid
particles, adiposomes, etc.) enclosed by a monolayer of phospholipids and hydrophobic proteins, such as the
perilipins in adipose tissue or oleosins in seeds. Two main biosynthetic pathways are known, the sn-glycerol-3-
phosphate pathway, which predominates in liver and adipose tissue, and a monoacylglycerol pathway in the intestines.
The most important route to triacylglycerol biosynthesis is the sn-glycerol-3-phosphate or Kennedy pathway.
O O O
CH2 OH CH2 O C R1 CH2 O C R1 CH2 O C R1
O O
1 2 3
CH OH CH OH CH O C R2 CH O C R2
Fatty Fatty
acyl-CoA acyl-CoA Pi
CH2 OP CH2 OP CH2 OP CH2 OH
Glycerol-3-phosphate Lysophosphatidic acid Phosphatidic acid Diacylglycerol
Fatty 4
acyl-CoA
Enzymes
1 Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase O
2 Acylglycerophosphate acyltransferase CH2 O C R1
3 Phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase O
4 Diacylglycerol acyltransferase CH O C R2
O
CH2 O C R3
Triacylglycerol
Figure 2.68 Triacylglycerol biosynthetic pathway.
192
Glycine
+ d-Aminolevulinate Uroporphyrinogen III Protoporphyrin IX Chlorophylls
Succinyl-CoA (Plants)
(Animals, Bacteria)
Glutamate (Plants)
Heme (Prokaryotes and eukaryotes)
Phycobilins (Algae)
In animals, all of the nitrogen of heme is derived from glycine and all of the carbons is derived from succinate and
glycine. Hence, this synthesis is often called the succinate-glycine pathway. Porphyrin biosynthesis involves three
distinct processes:
a. Synthesis of a substituted pyrrole compound, porphobilinogen from ALA.
b. Condensation of four porphobilinogen molecules to yield a partly reduced precursor called a porphyrinogen.
c. Modification of the side chains, dehydrogenation of the ring system, and the introduction of iron, to give the
porphyrin product, heme.
2.12 Nucleotide metabolism

2.12.1 Nucleotide synthesis
The pathways for the biosynthesis of nucleotides fall into two classes: de novo pathways and salvage pathways.
In de novo (means anew) pathways, the nucleotide bases are assembled from simpler compounds. The framework
for a pyrimidine base is assembled first and then attached to ribose. In contrast, the framework for a purine base
is synthesized piece by piece directly onto a ribose-based structure.
In salvage pathways, preformed bases are recovered and reconnected to a ribose unit.
Salvage pathway de novo pathway
5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate (PRPP) PRPP + Amino acids + ATP + CO2 + .....

+
Base
Nucleotide
Nucleotide
Both de novo and salvage pathways lead to the synthesis of ribonucleotides. All deoxyribonucleotides are synthesized
from the corresponding ribonucleotides. The deoxyribose sugar is generated by the reduction of ribose within a
fully formed nucleotide. Furthermore, the methyl group that distinguishes the thymine of DNA from the uracil of
RNA is added at the last step in the pathway.
de novo synthesis
Pyrimidine ribonucleotide
In de novo synthesis of pyrimidines, the ring is synthesized first and then it is attached to ribose to form a
pyrimidine nucleotide.
218
Carbamoyl phosphate Aspartate

(N3 and C2) (N1, C4, C5 and C6)
C
N3 4 C UTP CTP to RNA
5
C2 1
6C
N PRPP
(Activated ribose) TMP dCTP to DNA
Pyrimidine ring
Figure 2.89 de novo pathway for pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis. The C-2 and N-3 atoms in the pyrimidine
ring come from carbamoyl phosphate, whereas the other atoms of the ring come from aspartate.
Pyrimidine rings are synthesized from carbamoyl phosphate and aspartate. The precursor of carbamoyl phosphate
is bicarbonate and ammonia. The synthesis of carbamoyl phosphate from bicarbonate and ammonia occurs in a
multistep process, requiring the cleavage of two molecules of ATP. This reaction is catalyzed by cytosolic carbamoyl
phosphate synthetase II.
NH2
2 ATP
HCO3 + Glutamine O C OP + Glutamate
Carbamoyl
phosphate Carbamoyl
synthetase II phosphate
Carbamoyl phosphate reacts with aspartate to form carbamoylaspartate in a reaction catalyzed by aspartate
transcarbamoylase. Carbamoylaspartate then cyclizes to form dihydroorotate which is then oxidized to form orotate.
O O

NH2 O C H2O C
Aspartate H2N HN
O C
Aspartate N COO Dihydroorotase O COO

O N
OP transcarbamoylase H H
Carbamoyl Carbamoyl aspartate Dihydroorotate

phosphate
+
NAD
Dihydroorotate
O O dehydrogenase
NADH
C C
HN HN

O
O N O N COO
PCH2 O PCH2 O PPi C
CO2 PRPP HN
Orotidylate Orotate phosphoribosyl- O N COO

decarboxylase transferase H
OH OH OH OH
UMP OMP Orotate
Figure 2.90 Pyrimidine synthesis.
Orotate couples to ribose, in the form of 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate (PRPP), a form of ribose activated to
accept nucleotide bases (PRPP is synthesized from ribose-5-phosphate, formed by the pentose phosphate pathway,
219
Chapter 03
3.1 What is a Cell?

The basic structural and functional unit of cellular organisms is the cell. It is an aqueous compartment bound by cell
membrane, which is capable of independent existence and performing the essential functions of life. All organisms,
more complex than viruses, consist of cells. Viruses are noncellular organisms because they lack cell or cell-like
structure. In the year 1665, Robert Hooke first discovered cells in a piece of cork and also coined the word cell. The
word cell is derived from the Latin word cellula, which means small compartment. Hooke published his findings in
his famous work, Micrographia. Actually, Hooke only observed cell walls because cork cells are dead and without
cytoplasmic contents. Anton van Leeuwenhoek was the first person who observed living cells under a microscope
and named them animalcules, meaning little animals.
On the basis of the internal architecture, all cells can be subdivided into two major classes, prokaryotic cells and
eukaryotic cells. Cells that have unit membrane bound nuclei are called eukaryotic, whereas cells that lack a
membrane bound nucleus are prokaryotic. Eukaryotic cells have a much more complex intracellular organization
with internal membranes as compared to prokaryotic cells. Besides the nucleus, the eukaryotic cells have other
membrane bound organelles (little organs) like the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex, lysosomes, mitochondria,
microbodies and vacuoles. The region of the cell lying between the plasma membrane and the nucleus is the
cytoplasm, comprising the cytosol (or cytoplasmic matrix) and the organelles. The prokaryotic cells lack such unit
membrane bound organelles.
Cell theory
In 1839, Schleiden, a German botanist, and Schwann, a British zoologist, led to the development of the cell theory
or cell doctrine. According to this theory all living things are made up of cells and cell is the basic structural and
functional unit of life. In 1855, Rudolf Virchow proposed an important extension of cell theory that all living cells
arise from pre-existing cells (omnis cellula e cellula). The cell theory holds true for all cellular organisms. Non-
cellular organisms such as virus do not obey cell theory. Over the time, the theory has continued to evolve. The
modern cell theory includes the following components:
All known living things are made up of one or more cells.
The cell is the structural and functional unit of life.
All cells arise from pre-existing cells by division.
Energy flow occurs within cells.
Cells contain hereditary information (DNA) which is passed from cell to cell.
All cells have basically the same chemical composition.
Evolution of the cell

The earliest cells probably arose about 3.5 billion years ago in the rich mixture of organic compounds, the primordial
soup, of prebiotic times; they were almost certainly chemoheterotrophs. Primitive heterotrophs gradually acquired
231
the capability to derive energy from certain compounds in their environment and to use that energy to synthesize
more and more of their own precursor molecules, thereby becoming less dependent on outside sources of these
molecules-less extremely heterotrophic. A very significant evolutionary event was the development of photosynthetic
ability to fix CO2 into more complex organic compounds. The original electron (hydrogen) donor for these
photosynthetic organisms was probably H2S, yielding elemental sulfur as the byproduct, but at some point, cells
developed the enzymatic capacity to use H2O as the electron donor in photosynthetic reactions, producing O2. The
cyanobacteria are the modern descendants of these early photosynthetic O2 producers.
One important landmark along this evolutionary road occurred when there was a transition from small cells with
relatively simple internal structures - the so-called prokaryotic cells, which include various types of bacteria - to a
flourishing of larger and radically more complex eukaryotic cells such as are found in higher animals and plants.
The fossil record shows that earliest eukaryotic cells evolved about 1.5 billion years ago. Details of the evolutionary
path from prokaryotes to eukaryotes cannot be deduced from the fossil record alone, but morphological and
biochemical comparison of modern organisms has suggested a reasonable sequence of events consistent with the
fossil evidence.
Three major changes must have occurred as prokaryotes gave rise to eukaryotes. First, as cells acquired more
DNA, mechanisms evolved to fold it compactly into discrete complexes with specific proteins and to divide it equally
between daughter cells at cell division. These DNA-protein complexes called chromosomes become especially
compact at the time of cell division. Second, as cells became larger and intracellular membrane organelles developed.
Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus which contains most of the cells DNA, enclosed by a double layer of membrane.
The DNA is, thereby, kept in a compartment separate from the rest of the contents of the cell, the cytoplasm, where
most of the cells metabolic reactions occur.
Finally, primitive eukaryotic cells, which were incapable of photosynthesis or of aerobic metabolism, pooled their
assets with those of aerobic bacteria or photosynthetic bacteria to form symbiotic associations that became
permanent. Some aerobic bacteria evolved into the mitochondria of modern eukaryotes, and some photosynthetic
cyanobacteria became the chloroplasts of modern plant cells.
3.2 Structure of eukaryotic cells

3.2.1 Plasma membrane
Plasma membrane is a dynamic, fluid structure and forms the external boundary of cells. It acts as a selectively
permeable membrane and regulates the molecular traffic across the boundary. The plasma membrane exhibits
selective permeability; that is, it allows some solutes to cross it more easily than others. Different models were
proposed to explain the structure and composition of plasma membranes. In 1972, Jonathan Singer and Garth
Nicolson proposed fluid-mosaic model, which is now the most accepted model. In this model, membranes are viewed
as quasi-fluid structures in which proteins are inserted into lipid bilayers. It describes both the mosaic arrangement
of proteins embedded throughout the lipid bilayer as well as the fluid movement of lipids and proteins alike.
Peripheral protein
Phospholipid
bilayer
Integral
protein Peripheral
protein
Figure 3.1 Fluid mosaic model for membrane structure. The fatty acyl chains in the lipid bilayer form a
fluid, hydrophobic region. Integral proteins float in this lipid bilayer. Both proteins and lipids are free to move
laterally in the plane of the bilayer, but movement of either from one face of the bilayer to the other is restricted.
232
Chemical constituents of plasma membrane

All plasma membranes, regardless of source, contain proteins as well as lipids. The ratio of protein to lipid varies
enormously depends on cell types. For example, the plasma membrane of human RBC contains 43% lipid and 49%
protein by weight whereas plasma membrane of mouse liver cells contain 54% lipid and 46% protein by weight.
Carbohydrates are also present in plasma membranes and comprise only 5 to 10% of membrane mass. Carbohydrates
bound either to proteins as constituents of glycoproteins or to lipids as constituents of glycolipids. Carbohydrates
are especially abundant in the plasma membranes of eukaryotic cells.
Lipid bilayer
The basic structure of the plasma membrane is the lipid bilayer. This bilayer is composed of two leaflets of amphipathic
lipid molecules, whose polar head groups are in contact with the intra- or extracellular aqueous phase, whereas
their non-polar tails face each other, constituting the hydrophobic interior of the membrane. The primary physical
forces for organizing lipid bilayer are hydrophobic interactions. Three classes of lipid molecules present in lipid
bilayer - phospholipids, glycolipids and sterol.
Alcohol
Hydrophilic
head Phosphate
Glycerol
Two hydrophobic Fatty acid
Fatty acid
fatty acid tails
Figure 3.2 Phospholipid structure. The hydrophilic unit, also called the polar head group, is represented by
a circle, whereas the hydrocarbon tails are depicted by straight lines.
Phospholipids
Phospholipids are made up of four components: an alcohol (glycerol or sphingosine), fatty acids, phosphate, and an
alcohol attached to the phosphate. The fatty acid components are hydrophobic, whereas the remainder of the
molecule has hydrophilic. There are two types of phospholipids: glycerophospholipids and sphingophospholipids.
Phospholipids derived from glycerol are called glycerophospholipids. Glycerophospholipids (or phosphoglycerides)
contain glycerol, fatty acids, phosphate and an alcohol (e.g. choline). Phosphoglyceride molecules are classified
according to the types of alcohol linked to the phosphate group. For example, if the alcohol is choline, the molecule
is called phosphatidylcholine (also referred to as lecithin) and if serine, then it is called phosphotidylserine.
Phosphoglycerides are the most numerous phospholipid molecules found in plasma membranes.
Sphingophospholipids contain an amino alcohol called sphingosine instead of glycerol, a fatty acid, phosphate and
an alcohol attached to the phosphate. In sphingophospholipid, the amino group of the sphingosine backbone is
linked to a fatty acid by an amide bond. Sphingomyelin is the most abundant sphingophospholipid.
The plasma membrane of animal cells contains four major phospholipids, such as phosphatidylcholine (the most
abundant glycerophospholipids in the plasma membrane), phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine and
sphingomyelin. At neutral pH, the polar head group may have no net charge (phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidyl-
ethanolamine) or it may have net negative charges (phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylserine). Rarer phospholipids
have a net positive charge.
233
3.3 Membrane potential

Electrical character of ion transport may be electroneutral i.e. electrically silent either by symport of the oppositely
charged ions or antiport of similarly charged ions or electrogenic i.e. result in charge separation across the
membrane. Electrogenic transport affects and can be affected by the membrane potential. For example, the Na+
K+ pump imports 2K+ and simultaneously exports 3Na+; that is, it moves 1 positive charge out of the cell. Its
electrogenic operation directly contributes to the negative inside membrane potential, which is evidenced by the
fact that stopping the pump using an alkaloid inhibitor, ouabain, causes an immediate and slight depolarization of
the cell membrane.
All cells have an electrical potential difference, or membrane potential, across their plasma membrane. Electrical
potential across cell membranes is a function of the electrolyte concentrations in the intracellular and extracellular
solutions and of the selective permeabilities of the ions. Active transport of ions by ATP-driven ion pumps, generate
and maintain ionic gradients. In addition to ion pumps, which transport ions against concentration gradients, plasma
membrane contains channel protein that allows ions to move through it at different rates down their concentration
gradient. Ion concentration gradients and selective movements of ions create a difference in electric potential or
voltage across the plasma membrane. This is called membrane potential.
How membrane potentials arise?

To help explain how an electric potential across the plasma membrane can arise, we first consider a set of simplified
experimental systems in which a membrane, which is only permeable for K+ separates a 1 M KCl solution on the left
from a 1 M KCl solution on the right. Because the concentrations of K+ across the membrane are equal, there is no
net flow of ions across the membrane and thus no electric potential is generated. If the concentration of K+ ions
across the membrane is different as shown in the figure, then K+ ions tend to move down their concentration
gradient from the left side to the right, leaving an excess of negative Cl ions compared with K+ ions on the left side
and generate an excess of positive K+ ions compared with Cl ions on the right side. The resulting separation of
charge across the membrane constitutes an electric potential, or voltage, with the left side of the membrane having
excess negative charge with respect to the right. However, continued left-to-right movement of the K+ ions eventually
is inhibited by the mutual repulsion between the excess positive charges accumulated on the right side of the
membrane and by the attraction of K+ ions to the excess negative charges built up on the left side. The system soon
reaches an equilibrium point at which the two opposing factors that determine the movement of K+ ionsthe
membrane electric potential and the ion concentration gradientbalance each other out. At equilibrium, no net
movement of K+ ions occurs across the membrane.
+ +
(a) No net flow of K (b) Net flow of K
+
+
+
+
+
+
K
+
+
+
1 M KCl 1 M KCl 1 M KCl + 0.1 M KCl
+ +
Membrane only permeable to K Membrane only permeable to K
No membrane potential Membrane potential established
Figure 3.15 Two compartments are separated by a membrane permeable only to K+ ions. (a) Because the
concentrations in the two compartments are equal, there is no net flow of ions across the membrane and no
electrical potential. (b) A difference in concentration causes K+ ions to move from the left compartment to
the right one. At equilibrium, an electrical potential is established across the membrane due to an accumulation
of negative charges on the left side and positive charges on the right.
248
Let us now consider the changes in potential during an action potential, and the permeability and ion movements
responsible for generating this change in potential. Movement of ions occurs through ion channels. Ion channels
may be either leaky channels or gated channels. Leaky channels, which are open all the time, permit unregulated
leakage of specific ion across the membrane. Gated channels, in contrast, have gates that can be open or closed,
permitting ion passage through the channels when open and preventing ion passage through the channels when
closed. Movement of K+ through K+ leaky channels makes the greatest contribution to the establishment of the
resting potential, because the membrane at rest is considerably more permeable to K+. Action potentials are the
direct consequence of the voltage-gated cation channels. During an action potential, rapid fluxes of Na+ occur
through voltage gated Na+ channels down their electrochemical gradients. This voltage-gated Na+ channel can
exist in three conformations: 1. closed but capable of opening; 2. open or activated and 3. closed and not capable
of opening or inactivated. The channel undergoes through these various conformations as a result of voltage
changes that take place during an action potential.
At resting potential (about 70 mV), Na+ voltage-gated channels are closed. Therefore, Na+ cannot pass through
these voltage-gated channels at resting potential. A stimulus that causes sufficient depolarization promptly causes
voltage-gated Na+ channels to open, allowing a small amount of Na+ to enter the cell down its electrochemical
gradient. The influx of positive charge depolarizes the membrane further, thereby opening more Na+ channels,
which admit more Na+ ions, causing still further depolarization. This changes the membrane potential value of
about 70 mV to about +30 mV within a fraction of a second.
The Na+ channels have an automatic inactivating mechanism, which causes the channels to reclose rapidly even
though the membrane is still depolarized. The Na+ channels remain in this inactivated state, unable to reopen, until
a few milliseconds after the membrane potential returns to its initial negative value.
In addition to the inactivation of Na+ channels, another channels operate to help bring the activated plasma
membrane more rapidly back toward its original negative potential. It is voltage-gated K+ channels. The opening
and consequent efflux of K+ quickly drives the membrane back toward the K+ equilibrium potential. This process is
called repolarization. Voltage-gated K+ channels respond to changes in membrane potential in much the same way
as the Na+ channels do, but with slightly slower kinetics; for this reason they are sometimes called delayed K+
channels. Unlike voltage-gated Na+ channels, most voltage-gated K+ channels do not exhibit an inactivated state.
Instead, they alternate between closed and open states.
Hence, an action potential has two main phases: a depolarizing phase and a repolarizing phase. During the
depolarizing phase, the negative membrane potential becomes less negative, reaches zero, and then becomes
positive. During the repolarizing phase, the membrane potential is restored to the resting state of 70 mV.
Following the repolarizing phase there may be an after-hyperpolarizing phase, during which the membrane
potential temporarily becomes more negative (about 90 mV) than the resting level.
250
Membrane potential (millivolts)

+30
+
Caused by Na
diffusion into axon
0
+
Caused by K
diffusion out of axon
50
70 Resting membrane potential
0 1 2 3 4
Time (millisecond)
2
Na and K diffusion
1
+
4 +
1. Gated Na channels open
+
+
2. Inactivation of Na channels begins

3 +
3. Gated K channels open
+
5 4. Inactivation of K channels begins
+ +
0 1 2 3 4 5. Gated Na and K channels closed
Time (millisecond)
Figure 3.16 Membrane potential changes and ion movements during an action potential. The top graph
depicts an action potential. The bottom graph depicts the net diffusion of Na+ and K+ during the action potential.
The x-axis for time is the same in both graphs, so that the depolarization, repolarization, and after-
hyperpolarization in the top graph can be correlated with events in the Na+ and K+ channels and their effects
on ion movements in the bottom graph. The inward movement of Na+ drives the membrane potential toward
the Na+ equilibrium potential during the depolarization (rising) phase of the action potential, whereas the
outward movement of K+ drives the membrane potential toward the potassium equilibrium potential during
the repolarization (falling) phase of the action potential.
The period of time after an action potential begins during which an excitable cell cannot generate another action
potential in response to a normal threshold stimulus is called the refractory period. It can be absolute or relative.
During the absolute refractory period, even a very strong stimulus cannot initiate a second action potential. This
period coincides with the period of Na+ channel activation and inactivation. Inactivated Na+ channels cannot reopen;
they first must return to the resting state. The relative refractory period is the time period during which a second
action potential can be initiated, but only by a larger-than normal stimulus. It coincides with the period when the
voltage gated K+ channels are still open after inactivated Na+ channels have returned to their resting state. The
refractory period limit the number of action potentials that can be produced by an excitable membrane in a given
period of time.
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plasma membrane at the opposite side. An example of transcytosis is the movement of maternal antibodies across
the intestinal epithelial cells of the newborn rat. A newborn rat obtains antibodies from its mothers milk by transporting
them across the epithelium of its gut. The lumen of the gut is acidic, and, at this low pH, the antibodies in the milk
bind to specific receptors on the apical (absorptive) surface of the gut epithelial cells. The receptor-antibody
complexes are internalized via clathrin coated vesicles and are delivered to early endosomes. The complexes
remain intact and are retrieved in transport vesicles that bud from the early endosome and subsequently fuse with
the basolateral domain of the plasma membrane. On exposure to the neutral pH of the extracellular fluid that
bathes the basolateral surface of the cells, the antibodies dissociate from their receptors and eventually enter the
newborns bloodstream.
3.4.3 Exocytosis
Transport vesicles destined for the plasma membrane undergo fusion with the plasma membrane and release the
contents outside the cell in the process called exocytosis. It may be a constitutive secretory pathway (carried out
by all cells) or regulated secretory pathway (carried out by specialized cells). Examples of proteins released by
such constitutive (or continuous) secretion include collagen by fibroblasts, serum proteins by hepatocytes, and
antibodies by activated B-lymphocytes.
Vesicle containing
soluble proteins for
constitutive secretion
Constitutive
secretory
pathway
Trans-Golgi
network Extracellular space
Regulated
secretory
pathway
Secretory
Golgi complex
vesicle containing
secretory proteins
Plasma
membrane
Figure 3.26 Constitutive and regulated secretory pathways. The two pathways diverge in the trans Golgi
network. The constitutive secretory pathway operates in all cells. Many soluble proteins are continually
secreted from the cell by this pathway. This pathway also supplies the plasma membrane with newly
synthesized lipids and proteins. Specialized secretory cells also have a regulated secretory pathway, by
which selected proteins in the trans Golgi network are diverted into secretory vesicles, where the proteins
are concentrated and stored until an extracellular signal stimulates their secretion. The regulated secretion
of small molecules, such as histamine and neurotransmitters, occurs by a similar pathway.
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The regulated secretory pathway is found mainly in cells specialized for secreting products rapidly on demand such
as hormones, neurotransmitters, or digestive enzymes. In this secretory pathway, secretory vesicles form from
the trans Golgi network, and they release their contents to the cell exterior by exocytosis in response to specific
signals. The secreted product can be either a small molecule (such as histamine) or a protein (such as a hormone
or digestive enzyme). Proteins destined for secretion (called secretory proteins) are packaged into appropriate
secretory vesicles in the trans Golgi network. The signal that directs secretory proteins into such vesicles is not known.
3.5 Ribosome
The ribosomes are large ribonucleoproteins consisting of RNAs and proteins, ubiquitous in all cells, that translate
genetic information stored in the messenger RNA into polypeptides. The ribosome is approximately globular structure,
its average diameter ranging from 2.5 nm (Escherichia coli) to 2.8 nm (mammalian cells). The functional ribosomes
consist of two subunits of unequal size, known as the large and small subunits. Ribosomes consist of rRNA and
r-proteins. The r-proteins are termed as L or S depending on whether the protein is from the large or small subunit.
Table 3.5 Ribosome structure and chemical composition

Property Prokaryote Eukaryote
Overall size 70S 80S
Small subunit 30S 40S
Number of proteins ~21 ~30
RNA size (number of bases) 16S (1500) 18S (2300)
Large subunit 50S 60S
Number of proteins ~34 ~50
RNA size (number of bases) 23S (2900) 28S (4200)
5S (120) 5.8S (160)
5S (120)
S stands for the sedimentation coefficient. It is the ratio of a velocity to the centrifugal acceleration. The sedimentation
coefficient has units of second. A sedimentation coefficient of 1 1013 second is defined as one Svedberg, S.
rDNA organization
In prokaryotes such as Escherichia coli, there are three ribosomal RNAs (16S, 23S and 5S), which are organized as
a single transcription unit. In all eukaryotes studied so far, the organization of the ribosomal RNA genes is recognizably
similar to that of prokaryotes, but with major differences; the size of the small subunit RNA has increased from 16S
to 18S, and that of the large subunit from 23S and 28S; a new small 5.8S rRNA has become interspersed between
the 18S and the 28S rRNA, and the 5S rRNA has become separated from the other rRNAs in a different transcription
unit. The former transcription unit is generally referred to as the rRNA gene or the ribosomal DNA (rDNA). 5S genes
are transcribed by a different RNA polymerase from rRNA genes (RNA polymerase III rather than RNA polymerase I).
There are generally more copies of the 5S genes than of the rRNA genes. The human genome contains about 100
copies of rRNA genes per haploid set. Many other species, including most plants, have several thousand copies. The
rRNA gene is transcribed to give a precursor the 45S pre-rRNA, which is processed in a series of post-transcriptional
modifications to the mature rRNA species.
Table 3.6 Different types of ribosomes and their rRNAs

Ribosome source Sedimentation coefficient rRNA (large subunit/small subunit)
Bacterial 70S 5S, 23S/16S
Chloroplast 70S 5S, 23S/16S
Mitochondria (human) 55S 16S/12S
Archaebacteria 70S 5S,23S/16S
Eukaryotes (cytosol) 80S 5S, 5.8S, 28S/18S
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Unfolded protein Folded protein
NH2
COOH Signal peptide

H2N
COOH H2N Signal patch

H2N
Figure 3.27 Signal peptide and signal patch.
Protein translocation describes the movement of a protein across a membrane. Within the cell, translocation of
proteins from cytosol to specific organelle or organelle to cytosol and from one organelle to another occur in three
different ways:
1. Gated transport : The protein translocation between the cytosol and nucleus occurs through the nuclear pore
complexes. This process is called gated transport because the nuclear pore complexes function as selective
gates that can actively transport specific macromolecules.
2. Transmembrane transport : In transmembrane transport, membrane-bound protein translocators directly

transport specific proteins across a membrane from the cytosol into a organelle. The transport of selected
proteins from the cytosol into the ER lumen or into mitochondria is an example of transmembrane transport.
3. Vesicular transport : In vesicular transport, proteins move from one organelle to another through transport
vesicles. The transfer of proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus, for example, occurs
in this way.
Protein translocation may occur co-translationally or post-translationally. Proteins synthesized by membrane bound
ribosomes are translocated co-translationally. All proteins synthesized by membrane free ribosomes are translocated
post-translationally.
3.6 Endoplasmic reticulum

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the largest single membrane bound intracellular compartment. It is an extensive
network of closed and flattened membrane-bound structure. The enclosed compartment is called the ER lumen. ER
membranes are physiologically active, interact with the cytoskeleton and contain differentiated domains specialized
for distinct functions.
ER membranes are differentiated into rough and smooth regions (RER and SER, respectively), depending on
whether ribosomes are associated with their cytoplasmic surfaces. Regions of ER that lack bound ribosomes are
called SER (sometime also called transitional ER). The membranes and luminal spaces of the ER are normally
continuous throughout the cell and that RER and SER form an interconnected membrane system. When cells are
disrupted by homogenization, the ER breaks into fragments and reseals into small vesicles called microsomes.
Microsomes derived from RER are studded with ribosomes on the outer surface and are called rough microsomes.
Microsomes lacking attached ribosomes are called smooth microsome.
266
Ribosome
ER lumen
Nucleus Nuclear envelope
Figure 3.28 An endoplasmic reticulum is a membranous network of cisternae (sac-like structures). The
cisternal space (or lumen) remains continuous with the perinuclear space.
Function of ER
Proteins synthesized by ribosomes associated with the membrane of RER enter into the lumen and membrane of
RER by the process of co-translational translocation. In the lumen of the RER, five principal modifications of
proteins occur before they reach their final destinations: addition and processing of carbohydrates (N-linked
glycosylation), formation of disulfide bonds, proper folding, specific proteolytic cleavages and assembly into multimeric
proteins. The SER acts as the site of lipid biosynthesis, detoxification and calcium regulation.
N-linked glycosylation of proteins
N-linked glycosylation is the attachment of a sugar molecule to a nitrogen atom in an amino acid residue in a
protein. In the RER, this process involves the addition of a large preformed oligosaccharide precursor to a protein.
This precursor oligosaccharide is linked by a pyrophosphoryl residue to dolichol, a long-chain (7595 carbon
atoms) polyisoprenoid lipid that is firmly embedded in the RER membrane and acts as a carrier for the oligosaccharide.
The structure of N-linked oligosaccharide is the same in plants, animals and single-celled eukaryotes - a branched
oligosaccharide, containing three glucose (Glc), nine mannose (Man) and two N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) molecules
which is written as Glc3 Man9 GlcNAc2.
a1,2
Man Man
a1,6
Man
a1,6
Man Man a1,3 b1,4 b1,4
a1,2 Man GlcNAc GlcNAc
Glc Glc Glc Man Man Man a1,3 P

a1,2 a1,3 a1,3 a1,2 a1,2
P
Dolichol
Figure 3.29 Structure of dolicholPPoligosaccharide.
Biosynthesis of oligosaccharide begins on the cytosolic face of the ER membrane with the transfer of N-acetyl
glucosamine to dolichol phosphate. Two N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) and five mannose residues are added one
at a time to a dolichol phosphate on the cytosolic face of the ER membrane. The first sugar, N-acetyl glucosamine,
is linked to dolichol by a pyrophosphate bridge. This high-energy bond activates the oligosaccharide for its transfer
from the dolichol to an asparagine side chain of a nascent polypeptide on the luminal side of the rough ER.
Tunicamycin, an antibiotic, blocks the first step in this pathway and thus inhibits the synthesis of oligosaccharide.
After the seven-residue dolichol pyrophosphoryl intermediate is flipped to the luminal face. The remaining four
mannose and all three glucose residues are added one at a time in the luminal side. The sugar molecules participate
267
Table 3.8 Coated vesicles found within eukaryotic cells

Coated vesicle Coat proteins Transport
Clathrin Clathrin, AP1 Golgi complex to endosome
Clathrin Clathrin, AP2 Plasma membrane to endosome
COPI COPI Golgi complex to the ER or intra Golgi complex
COPII COPII ER to Golgi complex
The coat proteins surrounding transport vesicles that move from the late endosome to lysosomes and to the
plasma membrane have not yet been identified.
ER-resident proteins often are retrieved from the Cis-Golgi

As we have mentioned in the previous section that proteins entering into the lumen of the ER are of two types-
resident proteins and export proteins. How, then, are resident proteins retained in the ER lumen to carry out their
work?
The answer lies in a specific C-terminal sequence present in resident ER proteins. Most ER-resident proteins have
a Lys-Asp-Glu-Leu (KDEL in the one-letter code) sequence at their C-terminus. Several experiments demonstrated
that the KDEL sequence which acts as sorting signal, is both necessary and sufficient for retention in the ER. If this
ER retention signal is removed from BiP, for example, the protein is secreted from the cell; and if the signal is
transferred to a protein that is normally secreted, the protein is now retained in the ER. The KDEL sorting signal is
recognized and bound by the KDEL receptor found on the ER and the cis-Golgi. The KDEL receptor acts mainly to
retrieve proteins with the KDEL sorting signal that have escaped to the cis-Golgi network and returns them to the
ER. The finding that most KDEL receptors are localized to the membranes of small transport vesicles shuttling
between the ER and the cis-Golgi also supports this concept. The KDEL receptor acts mainly to retrieve soluble
proteins containing the KDEL sorting signal. The retention of transmembrane proteins in the ER is carried out by
short C-terminal sequences that contain two lysine residues (KKXX sequences).
The affinity of the KDEL receptor for proteins with KDEL sorting signal changes in different compartments. How can
the affinity of the KDEL receptor change depending on the compartment in which it resides? The answer may be
related to the differences in pH. In the low-pH environment of cis-Golgi and transport vesicles, the KDEL receptor
has greater binding affinity with the KDEL sorting signal whereas in the neutral-pH environment of the ER, the ER
proteins dissociate from the KDEL receptor due to lesser affinity.
Clearly, the transport of newly synthesized proteins from the RER to the Golgi cisternae is a highly selective and
regulated process. The selective entry of proteins into membrane-bound transport vesicles is an important feature
of protein targeting as we will encounter them several times in our study of the subsequent stages in the maturation
of secretory and membrane proteins.
3.7 Golgi complex

The Golgi complex was first discovered in 1897 by Italian physician Camillo Golgi. The Golgi complex, also termed
as Golgi body or Golgi apparatus, is a single membrane bound organelle and part of endomembrane system. It
consists of five to eight flattened membrane-bound sacs called the cisternae. Each stack of cisternae is termed as
Golgi stack (or dictyosome). The cisternae in Golgi stack vary in number, shape and organization in different cell
types. The typical diagrammatic representation of three major cisternae (cis, medial and trans) as shown in the
figure 3.41 is actually a simplification. In some unicellular flagellates, however, as many as 60 cisternae may
combine to make up the Golgi stack. The number of Golgi complexes in a cell varies according to its function. A
mammalian cell typically contains 40 to 100 stacks. In mammalian cells, multiple Golgi stacks are linked together
at their edges.
Each Golgi stack has two distinct faces: a cis face (or entry face or forming face) and a trans face (or maturing
face). Both cis and trans faces are closely associated with special compartments: the cis Golgi network (CGN)
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and the trans Golgi network (TGN), respectively. TGN was earlier known as GERL (Golgi apparatus - ER -
lysosome). Proteins and lipids enter the cis Golgi network in vesicular tubular clusters arriving from the ER and exit
from the trans Golgi network. Both networks are thought to be important for protein sorting. As we have seen,
proteins entering the CGN can either move onward in the Golgi apparatus or be returned to the ER. Similarly,
proteins exiting from the TGN can either move onward and be sorted according to whether they are destined for
lysosomes, secretory vesicles, or the cell surface, or be returned to an earlier compartment.
The Golgi apparatus is especially prominent in cells that are specialized for secretion, such as the goblet cells of the
intestinal epithelium, which secrete large amounts of polysaccharide-rich mucus into the gut. In such cells, unusually
large secretory vesicles are found on the trans side of the Golgi apparatus. Secretory vesicles form from the trans
Golgi network, and they release their contents to the cell exterior by exocytosis. The membrane proteins and the
lipids in these vesicles provide new components for the cells plasma membrane, while the soluble protein and
other compounds inside the vesicles are secreted to the extracellular space.
The Golgi apparatus is often considered the distribution and shipping department for the cells chemical products. It
modifies proteins and lipids that have been built in the endoplasmic reticulum and prepares them for export outside
of the cell or for transport to other locations in the cell. Proteins and lipids from the smooth and rough endoplasmic
reticulum bud off in tiny bubble-like vesicles that move through the cytoplasm until they reach the Golgi apparatus.
The vesicles fuse with the Golgi membranes and release their internally stored molecules into the organelle. Once
inside, the compounds are further processed by the Golgi apparatus. When completed, the product is extruded
from the Golgi apparatus in a vesicle and directed to its final destination inside or outside the cell.
ER
cis Golgi network

Phosphorylation of sugar
cis cisterna
Removal of Man
medial cisterna Golgi stack

Removal of Man, addition of GlcNAc
trans cisterna
Addition of Gal, addition of NANA
Sulfation of tyrosines and carbohydrates

trans Golgi network
Plasma membrane
Figure 3.41 The functional compartmentalization of the Golgi apparatus.
The modifications to molecules that take place in the Golgi apparatus occur in an orderly fashion. Substances from
ER enter into the cis face of a Golgi stack for processing and exit from trans face. Consequently, the cis face is
found near the endoplasmic reticulum and the trans face is positioned near the plasma membrane of the cell. The
chemical make-up of each face is different and the enzymes contained in the cisternae between the faces are distinctive.
Glycosylation of proteins
N-linked oligosaccharide chains on proteins are altered as the proteins pass through the Golgi cisternae en route
from the ER. Further modifications of N-linked oligosaccharide in the Golgi apparatus gives two broad classes of
N-linked oligosaccharides, the complex oligosaccharides and the high-mannose oligosaccharides. High-mannose
278
termed as heterochromatin. Because of its condensed state, this heterochromatin is generally believed to be
transcriptionally silent.
Centromere
The constricted region of linear chromosomes is known as the centromere. Although this constriction is called the
centromere, it is usually not located exactly in the center of the chromosome and, in some cases, is located almost
at the chromosomes end. The regions on either side of the centromere are referred to as the chromosomes arms.
The centromeres serve both as the sites of association of sister chromatids and as the attachment sites for
microtubules of the mitotic spindle.
Telomere
Telomeres are specialized structures, which cap the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. It consists of a long array of
short, tandemly repeated sequences. Sequencing of telomeres from different organisms has shown that most are
repetitive sequences with a high G content in the strand with its 3 end.
Origin of replication
The origin of replication (also called the replication origin) is a particular sequence in a chromosome at which
replication is initiated. One chromosome contains multiple origin of replication.
Chromosome number
All eukaryotic cells have multiple linear chromosomes. Every cell maintains a characteristic number of chromosomes.
Depending on the eukaryotic organism, the number of chromosomes varies from 2 to several hundreds. The
number of chromosomes in a species has no specific significance nor does it indicate any relationship between two
species which may have the same chromosome number. The majority of eukaryotic cells are diploid; that is, they
contain two copies of each chromosome.
Table 3.16 Chromosome number in different eukaryotic organisms.

Species Haploid number of chromosome
Saccharomyces cerevisiae (budding yeast) 16
Schizosaccharomyces pombe (fission yeast) 03
Caenorhabditis elegans 06
Arabidopsis thaliana 05
Drosophila melanogaster 04
Tetrahymena thermophilus Micronucleus 5, Macronucleus 225
Mus musculus (mouse) 19 + X and Y
Homo sapiens 22 + X and Y
3.20 Cell signaling

All cells receive and respond to signals from their surroundings. This is accomplished by a variety of signal molecules
that are secreted or expressed on the surface of one cell and bind to receptors expressed by other cells, thereby
integrating and coordinating the functions of the many individual cells that make up organisms. Each cell is
programmed to respond to specific extracellular signal molecules. Extracellular signaling usually involves the
following steps:
1. Synthesis and release of the signaling molecule by the signaling cell;
2. Transport of the signal to the target cell;
3. Binding of the signal by a specific receptor leading to its activation;
4. Initiation of signal-transduction pathways.
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In animals, extracellular signaling by signal molecules can be classified into four categoriesendocrine, paracrine,
autocrine and juxtacrine signaling.
In endocrine signaling, the signaling molecules act on target cells distantly located from their site of synthesis. It is
a long-range signaling in which signal molecule is transported by the blood stream.
In paracrine signaling, the signaling molecules released by a cell affect target cells only in close proximity. An
example of this is the action of neurotransmitters in carrying signals between nerve cells at a synapse.
In autocrine signaling, the signaling molecules produce an effect on same cell that produces it. One important
example of such is the response of cells of the vertebrate immune system to foreign antigens. Certain types of T-
lymphocytes respond to antigenic stimulation by synthesizing a growth factor that drives their own proliferation,
thereby increasing the number of responsive T-lymphocytes and amplifying the immune response.
In juxtacrine signaling, signal molecules do not diffuse from the cell producing it and cell bearing signal molecules
interact with receptor proteins of adjacent responding cells. Unlike other modes of cell signaling, juxtacrine signaling
requires physical contact between the cells involved. Notch signalling and classical cadherin signalling are examples
of juxtacrine signaling.
Endocrine signaling
Bloodstream
Signal
molecule Target cell
Paracrine signaling
Target cell
Autocrine signaling
Figure 3.70 Long-range signaling between cells is called endocrine when the signal molecule is transported
by the bloodstream (typical for hormones), paracrine when the signal diffuses between neighboring cells
across the extracellular matrix (typical for neurotransmitters and many so-called tissue hormones or local
mediators), and autocrine when the signal re-acts on the transmitter cell.
3.20.1 Signal molecules

Signal molecules are chemically heterogenous compounds. These molecules are divided into two categories
membrane bound and secretory signal molecules. Membrane bound signal molecules remain bound to the surface
of the cells and mediate contact dependent signaling. In most cases, signal molecules are secreted by signaling
cells. Secreted extracellular signal molecules are further divided into three general categories based on the distance
over which signals are transmitted: endocrine, paracrine and autocrine signal molecules.
314
pro-apoptotic. Mammalian Bcl2 family of proteins regulate the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis mainly by controlling
the release of cytochrome c and other intermembrane mitochondrial proteins into the cytosol.
The anti-apoptotic Bcl2 proteins include Bcl2 itself and Bcl-XL. Bcl2 was the first protein shown to cause an inhibition
of apoptosis. It is the mammalian homologue of the CED-9 in C. elegans. The pro-apoptotic Bcl2 proteins consist of
two subfamilies - the BH123 proteins and the BH3-only proteins. The main BH123 proteins are Bax and Bak, which
are structurally similar to Bcl2. Important members of the BH3-only proteins are Bid, Bim, Bik, Bad and Bmf.
When an apoptotic stimulus triggers the intrinsic pathway, the pro-apoptotic BH123 proteins become activated and
induces the release of cytochrome c and other intermembrane proteins by an unknown mechanism. In the absence
of an apoptotic stimulus, anti-apoptotic Bcl2 proteins bind to and inhibit the BH123 proteins on the mitochondrial
outer membrane and in the cytosol. In the presence of an apoptotic stimulus, BH3-only proteins are activated and
bind to the anti-apoptotic Bcl2 proteins so that they can no longer inhibit the BH123 proteins. Some activated BH3-
only proteins may stimulate mitochondrial protein release more directly by binding to and activcting the BH123
proteins.
3.24 Cancer
A normal cell undergoes regulated division, differentiation and apoptosis (programmed cell death). When normal
cells have lost the usual control over their division, differentiation and apoptosis they become tumor cells. So, a
tumor is the result of an abnormal proliferation of cells without differentiation and apoptosis. Tumor or neoplasm
(any abnormal proliferation of cells) may be of two types: Benign tumor and Malignant tumor.
Benign and malignant tumor
In benign tumor, neoplastic cells remain clustered together in a single mass and cannot spread to other sites. It
contains cells that closely resemble normal cells and that may function like normal cells.
Neoplastic cells that dont remain localized and encapsulated and becomes progressively invasive and malignant
are described as malignant tumors. They invade surrounding normal tissues (called invasiveness) and spread
throughout the body through circulatory or lymphatic systems (called metastasis). The term cancer refers specifically
to malignant tumors.
Table 3.20 Comparison of benign and malignant tumours

Characteristics Benign Malignant
Differentiation Well differentiated Lack differentiation
Rate of growth Slow Rapid
Invasiveness Absent Present
Metastasis Absent Present
Both benign and malignant tumors are classified according to the type of cell from which they arise. Most cancers
fall into three main groups Carcinomas (tumors that arise from endodermal or ectodermal tissues), Sarcomas
(malignancies of mesodermal connective tissues) and Leukemia/Lymphomas (from blood forming tissues and from
cells of the immune system).
Most cancers originate from single abnormal cell i.e. monoclonal origin. Cancers are probably initiated by changes
in the cells DNA sequence (genetic changes) or change in pattern of gene expression without a change in DNA
sequences (epigenetic changes).
Most cancers are initiated by genetic changes and majority of them are caused by changes in somatic cells and
therefore are not transmitted to the next generation. About 1% of all cancers is due to genetic changes in germinal
cells and is therefore inherited. About 80% of these inherited cancers are dominant in nature.
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The transition of a normal cell into a tumor cell is referred to as transformation. The transition from a normal to a
transformed state is a multisteps process involving genetic/epigenetic changes and selection of cells with the
progressively increasing capacity for proliferation, invasion and metastasis. Conceptually, this process can be
divided into three distinct stages: initiation, promotion and progression. The first step in the process is tumor
initiation. It is a process in which normal cells are changed so that they are able to form tumors. Promotion is
generally associated with increased proliferation of initiated cells, which increases the population of initiated cells.
Progression refers to the process of acquiring additional genetic changes that lead to malignancy and metastasis.
Additional genetic changes in cancer critical genes are the force that drives tumorigenesis. Each successive genetic
change is thought to provide the developing tumor cell with important growth advantages that allow cell clones to
outgrow their more normal neighboring cells.
Properties of cancer cells
Cancer cells typically display several abnormal properties as compared to normal cells that provide a description of
malignancy at the cellular level.
Density dependent inhibition
Normal cells in culture display density dependent inhibition of cell proliferation and proliferate until they reach a
finite cell density, which is determined partly by availability of growth factors in culture medium. But the proliferation
of cancer cells is not sensitive to density dependent inhibition.
Contact inhibition
Normal cells migrate across the surface of a culture dish until they make contact with a neighboring cell. Further cell
migration is then inhibited and normal cells adhere to each other forming an orderly array of cells on the culture
dish surface. This inhibition of growth after contact is called contact inhibition. Tumor cells in contrast continue
moving after contact with their neighbouring cells migrating over adjacent cells and growing in disordered multilayered
patterns.
Immortalization
Normal cells have a limited capacity to grow and divide both in vivo and in vitro. Even if provided with optimal
growth conditions, in vitro normal cells will cease dividing after about 50 generations and then senesce and die. In
contrast, malignant cells are immortal and can grow indefinitely.
Invasiveness and Metastasis

One of the most important characteristics of transformed cells is their invasiveness. Invasion refers to the direct
migration and penetration by cancer cells into neighboring tissues. Metastasis refers to the ability of cancer cells to
penetrate into lymphatic and blood vessels, circulate through the bloodstream, and then invade normal tissues
elsewhere in the body.
There are two properties of cancer cells that play important roles in invasion and metastasis. First, malignant cells
generally secrete proteases that digest extracellular matrix components, allowing the cancer cells to invade adjacent
normal tissues. Second, cancer cells also secrete growth factors that promote the formation of new blood vessels
(angiogenesis). Angiogenesis is needed to support the growth of a tumor by supplying oxygen and nutrients to
the proliferating tumor cells.
Loss of anchorage dependence

Most normal cells must be attached to a rigid substratum (i.e. they must be anchored) in order to grow. Transformed
cells can grow even when they are not attached to the substratum, as for example when they are suspended in a
semisolid medium containing agar or methyl cellulose.
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Chapter 04
4.1 General features of Prokaryotes

Prokaryotes (pro means before and karyon means kernel or nucleus) consist of eubacteria and the archaea (also
termed as archaebacteria or archaeobacteria). The term eubacteria refer specifically to bacteria. The informal
name bacteria are occasionally used loosely in the literature to refer to all the prokaryotes, and care should be
taken to interpret its meaning in any particular context. Prokaryotes can be distinguished from eukaryotes in terms
of their cell structure and molecular make-up. Prokaryotic cells have a simpler internal structure than eukaryotic cells.
Although many structures are common to both cell types, some are unique to prokaryotes. Most prokaryotes lack
extensive, complex, internal membrane systems. The major distinguishing characteristics of prokaryotes and
eukaryotes are as follows:
Features of prokaryotic organisms

True membrane bound nucleus Absent
DNA complexed with histone Absent
Number of chromosomes One (mostly)
Mitosis and meiosis Absent
Genetic recombination Partial (unidirectional transfer of DNA)
Sterol in plasma membrane Absent (Except Mycoplasma)
Ribosome 70S
Unit membrane bound organelles Absent
Cell wall Present in most of prokaryotic cells. In eubacteria, it is made up of peptidoglycan.
Features of eukaryotic organisms

True membrane bound nucleus Present
DNA complexed with histone Present
Number of chromosomes More than one
Mitosis and meiosis Present
Genetic recombination By crossing over during meiosis
Sterol in the plasma membrane Present
Ribosome 80S (in cytosol) and 70S (in organelles)
Unit membrane bound organelles Present
Cell wall Made up of cellulose in plant and chitin in fungi. Absent in animal cells.
Prokaryotic cells show similarities with eukaryotic organelles like mitochondria and chloroplast. The endosymbiotic
theory (Margulis, 1993) proposes that the mitochondria and chloroplasts of eukaryotic cells originated as symbiotic
prokaryotic cells. The presence of circular, covalently closed DNA and 70S ribosomes in mitochondria and chloroplast
support this theory.
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Table 4.1 Similarities between prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic organelles

Prokaryotic cells Eukaryotic organelles
Nature of DNA ds circular ds circular
Histone protein Absent Absent
Ribosome type 70S 70S
Growth Binary fission Binary fission
4.2 Phylogenetic overview

Historically, prokaryotes were classified on the basis of their phenotypic characteristics. Prokaryotic taxonomy
therefore involved measuring a large number of characteristics, including morphology and biochemical characteristics
(e.g. ability to grow on different substrates, cell wall structure, antibiotic sensitivities, and many others). This
contrasts with the classification of eukaryotic organisms, for which phylogenetic (evolution-based) classification
was possible through the availability of fossil evidence.
A major revolution occurred with the realization that evolutionary relationships could be deduced on the basis of
differences in gene sequence. The most important gene for prokaryote phylogeny is the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
gene, which is present in all cells. The gene is approximately 1500 bp in length and possesses signature sequences.
These sequences are conserved and found in the organisms of one taxonomic group but not in other groups.
Bacteria Archaea Eukaryotes
Green
filamentous Entamoebae Slime Animals
Spirochetes bacteria molds
Gram Methanosarcina Fungi
positive
Methanobacterium Halophiles
Proteobacteria Plants
Methanococcus
Cyanobacteria Ciliates
T. Celer
Planctomyces Thermoproteus Flagellates
Pyrodicticum
Cytophaga Trichomonads
Microsporidia
Thermotoga
Diplomonads
Aquifex
Phylogenetic tree of life
Figure 4.1 A phylogenetic tree of living things, based on RNA data (proposed by Carl Woese), showing
the separation of bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes from a common ancestor.
Based on ribosomal RNA signature sequences, Carl Woese proposed a radical reorganization of the five kingdoms
into three domains. In his classification system, Woese placed all four eukaryotic kingdoms (protista, fungi, plantae,
animalia) into a single domain called Eukarya, also known as the eukaryotes. He then split the former kingdom of
Monera into the Eubacteria and the Archaea domains. Unlike Whittakers five kingdom system, Woeses three
domain system organizes biodiversity by evolutionary relationships.
4.3 Structure of bacterial cell

Bacteria (eubacteria) are microscopic, relatively simple, prokaryotic organisms whose cells lack a nucleus. Prokaryotes
can be distinguished from eukaryotes in terms of their cell structure and molecular make-up. Prokaryotic cells are
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morphologically simpler than eukaryotic cells. Although many structures are common to both cell types, some are
unique to prokaryotes. Most prokaryotes lack extensive, complex, internal membrane systems.
Size, shape and arrangement of bacterial cells

Bacteria range in size from 0.22 micrometres in diameter, and 0.55.0 micrometres in length. However, a few
species for example, Thiomargarita namibiensis and Epulopiscium fishelsoni are very large and visible to the
unaided eye. The rod shaped E. fishelsoni is about 600 micrometres in length and 75 micrometres in diameter. The
smallest known bacteria are members of the genus Mycoplasma (about 0.3 micrometres in diameter).
Most bacteria are very small in size. Because of their small size, bacteria have a large surface area-to-volume
ratio. The large surface area-to-volume ratio of bacteria also means that no internal part of the cell is very far from
the surface and the nutrients can easily and quickly reach all parts of the cell. It also allows rapid uptake and
intracellular distribution of nutrients and excretion of wastes. At low surface area-to-volume ratio, the diffusion of
nutrients and waste products across the cell membrane limit the rate at which microbial metabolism occurs, making
the cell less evolutionarily fit.
1 mm cube 2 mm cube 4 mm cube
2 2 2
Surface area 6 mm 24 mm 96 mm
3 3 3
Volume 1 mm 8 mm 64 mm
Surface area 6/1 3/1 1.5/1

to volume ratio
Cell shape is generally characteristic of a given bacterial species. The four basic shapes of bacteria are bacillus (rod
like), coccus (spherical or ovoid), vibrio (comma shaped) and spirilla (spiral or helical shaped). The term Bacillus
has two meanings. Bacillus refers to a bacterial shape as well as genus. When capitalized and italicized, it refers to
a specific genus. For example, Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax.
When cocci divide, cells can remain attached to one another. Cocci that remain in pairs after dividing are called
diplococci; those that divide and remain attached in chain like patterns are called streptococci. Some cocci divide in
two planes and remain in groups of four, forming squares are known as tetrads. Those that divide in three planes
and remain attached in cubelike groups of eight are called sarcinae. Those that divide in multiple planes and form
grapelike clusters are called staphylococci. Most bacilli appear as single rods. Diplobacilli appear in pairs after
division, and streptobacilli occur in chains. Bacteria that look like curved rods are called vibrios. Spirilla have a
helical shape and fairly rigid bodies. Another group of spirals are helical and flexible; they are called spirochetes.
Most bacteria maintain a single shape (monomorphic). Some bacteria like Corynebacterium, have many shapes,
and lack a single, characteristic shape. These bacteria are called pleomorphic. The modern definition of pleomorphism
in the context of bacteriology is based on variation of shape of the cell, rather than a change of shape.
Staining
Staining is a biochemical technique of colouring specimens. Dyes are used to stain specimens. Generally, dyes are
organic compounds consisting of two functional chemical groups one group gives dyes its characteristic colour;
while the another group contains an ionizable chemical structure, which helps to solubilize the dye and facilitates its
binding to different structures. Previously, dyes were classified as acidic or basic, depending upon whether the dye
was negatively or positively charged at neutral pH. More accurately, dyes can be referred to as anionic or cationic.
Cationic or basic dyes (such as crystal violet, methylene blue, safranin, malachite green) will react with groups that
have a negative charge. Anionic or acidic dyes (such as eosin, acid fuchsin) will react with groups that have a
positive charge.
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Table 4.5 Difference between gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria

Property Gram-negative bacteria Gram-positive bacteria
Cell wall 2 to 7 nm thick 20 to 80 nm thick
Teichoic acids Absent present
Periplasmic space Prominent Negligible
Outer membrane Present Absent
Motility Motile or non-motile. Mostly non-motile
Appendages Usually bears appendages like pili, fimbriae Usually lack appendages
Flagellar structure 4 rings in basal body 2 rings in basal body
Toxin produced Endotoxins and exotoxins exotoxins
Endospores Cannot form endospores Some genera form endospores
Porin
Lipopolysaccharide
Outer membrane
Peptidoglycan
Peptidoglycan cell wall cell wall
Plasma Plasma
membrane membrane
Gram-negative Gram-positive
Figure 4.13 A comparison of bacterial cell wall.
4.4 Bacterial genome : Bacterial chromosome and plasmid

Nucleoid
The nucleoid is the region in a bacterial cell that contains the bacterial chromosome. It lacks a limiting membrane.
The bacterial chromosome is a circular dsDNA molecule. It does not contain basic histone proteins, but is associated
with low-molecular-weight polyamines. The bacterial chromosome is organized into independently supercoiled
loops called domains. The domain organization enables the chromosomal DNA to undergo structural changes
during different cellular processes (replication, transcription, and segregation) that take place simultaneously in a
bacterial cell. Nucleoid-associated proteins such as HU (Heat-Unstable nucleoid protein), H-NS (Histone-like Nucleoid
Structuring), IHF (Integration Host Factor) and SMC (Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes) facilitate compaction
of chromosomal DNA by bending, bridging, and wrapping.
In addition, SMC protein is also involved in chromosome segregation. The primary role of the H-NS protein is to
maintain the structure of the bacterial nucleoid. H-NS binds to DNA and then the H-NS proteins bind to each other,
forming aggregates of four or more H-NS units, thus helping the condensation of the DNA into the nucleoid. HU
protein and IHF are examples of proteins that are involved in bending DNA (as opposed to H-NS, which binds to
DNA already bent as a result of its sequence). They help in integration, inversion and recombination events by
bending DNA.
Most bacteria, like E. coli, contain a single circular DNA molecule as a chromosome. The recent studies have
indicated that some bacteria contain as many as four linear or circular chromosomes. For example, Vibrio cholerae,
the bacterium that causes cholera, contains two circular chromosomes. One of these chromosomes contains the
genes involved in metabolism and virulence, while the other contains the remaining essential genes. An even more
extreme example is provided by Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. It contains up to 11
copies of a single linear chromosome. Unlike E. coli, Borrelia cannot supercoil its linear chromosomes into a tight
ball within the nucleoid; rather, these strands are diffused throughout the cell. The DNA molecules of Archaea share
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are very rare and reported in few plants, fungi and even animals. Bacterial plasmids are usually much smaller than
the bacterial chromosome, varying from less than 5 kbp to more than several hundred kbp, though plasmids as large
as 2 Mbp also occur in some bacteria. They usually encode traits that are not essential for bacterial viability, and
replicate independently of the chromosome. Most plasmids are circular, negatively supercoiled, dsDNA molecules,
but linear plasmids have also been reported in genera Borrelia and Streptomyces.
Types of plasmid
Conjugative, mobilizable and self-transmissible plasmid

Conjugative plasmids are large plasmids (>40 kbp) that carry genes for the formation of specific donor recipient
pairs. These plasmids have genes for the synthesis of pili that help in the process of conjugation.
A plasmid that is not self-transmissible due to the absence of tra genes but can be transferred by a self-transmissible
plasmid is called mobilizable plasmid. The process by which it is transferred is called mobilization. It relies on the
product of tra genes specified by a self-transmissible plasmid to achieve the transfer. A mobilizable plasmid must
contain an oriT site.
A self-transmissible plasmid encodes all the proteins that is required for transfer between donor and recipient. It is
both conjugative and mobilizable. A plasmid that lacks genes necessary for effective contact and DNA transfer is
termed non-transmissible plasmid. Most naturally occurring plasmids are either self-transmissible or mobilizable.
F-plasmid
The F-plasmid is an example of self-transmissible plasmid. Bacteria that possess a copy of F-plasmid are called
F-positive or F-plus (denoted F+). Cells that lack F plasmids are called F-negative or F-minus (F). The F-plasmid is
also an episome. A plasmid that can exist autonomously in a cell or can integrate itself into the bacterial chromosome
is termed as an episome. A bacterial cell that contains an F-plasmid integrated with the bacterial chromosome is
referred to as an Hfr (High frequency recombination) cell. Integration involves homologous recombination between
two covalently closed circular DNA molecules forming one circular molecule containing both of the original DNA
structures. It is thought that the insertion sequences (IS sequence) present in the F-plasmid and those in the host
chromosome serve as regions of homology for the insertional event.
+
F Hfr
Bacterial F factor
chromosome
Figure 4.14 The F-plasmid is an episome and can integrate into the bacterial chromosome at several different
locations by recombination between homologous insertion sequences present on both the plasmid and host
chromosomes. Such a donor bacterial cell is called an Hfr strain (for high frequency of recombination) because
it exhibits a very high efficiency of chromosomal gene transfer in comparison with F-cells.
R-plasmid (resistance plasmid)

R-plasmids make the host cell resistant to one or more antibiotics. They typically have genes that code for enzymes
capable of destroying or modifying antibiotics. Some R-plasmids have only a single antibiotic resistance gene,
whereas others have many. Most R-plasmids are mobilizable plasmids.
Col (colicinogenic) plasmids

Col plasmids synthesize proteins termed as bacteriocin that prevent the growth of susceptible bacterial strains that
do not contain a Col plasmid. Bacteriocins are proteins that inhibit the growth of other closely related bacterial
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a DNA fragment that is too large. The co-transduction can also be used to map genes present in the bacterial
chromosome. Mapping of genes by the process of co-transduction is based on the fact that the closer the genes to
each other, greater the probability of their co-transduction. That is, the frequency of co-transduction is inversely
proportional to the distance between two genes. For example, consider three genes a, b and c for which the
frequencies of co-transduction determined by two factor crosses are: a-b, 90%; a-c, 33%; and b-c, 42%. The
values indicate that the b is closer to a than to c. A mathematical formula (proposed by Wu) is used to relate co-
transduction frequencies to map distance:
C = (1d/L)3
Where, C is the co-transduction frequency, d is the distance in minutes between two genes and L is the size of the
transducing fragment in minutes.
4.6.3 Conjugation
In 1946, Joshua Lederberg and Edward Tatum showed that bacteria undergo conjugation, a process in which the
genetic information from one bacteria is transferred to, and recombined with, that of other bacteria. In conjugation,
direct contact between the donor and recipient bacteria leads to the establishment of a cytoplasmic bridge between
them and transfer of a part or all of the donor genome to the recipient takes place. Donor ability is determined by
the presence of self transmissible /conjugative plasmids called fertility plasmids or sex plasmids. Self transmissible
plasmids exist in both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. A recipient cell that has received DNA as a result
of conjugation is called transconjugant. Transfer of plasmids is generally intraspecific; however, many plasmids
have transfer system that enable them to transfer DNA between unrelated species. These are known as promiscuous
plasmids.
F+ F conjugation
The F-plasmid (also called F-factor) of E. coli is the prototype for fertility plasmids in Gram-negative bacteria.
Strains of E. coli with an extrachromosomal F plasmid are called F+ and function as donors, whereas strains that
lack the F-plasmid are F and behave as recipients. The conjugative functions of the F-plasmid are specified by a
cluster of at least 25 transfer (tra) genes which determine expression of sex pili, synthesis and transfer of DNA
during mating, interference with the ability of F+ bacteria to serve as recipients, and other functions. The tra genes
can be divided into two groups: those whose products are involved in the mating pair formation (Mpf) and those
whose products are involved in processing the plasmid DNA for transfer (Dtr). The Mpf component includes a sex
pilus that extrudes from the cell and holds mating cells together. The Mpf system also includes the channel in the
membrane through which DNA and protein pass.
Each F+ bacterium has 1 to 3 sex pili that binds to a specific outer membrane protein on recipient bacteria to initiate
mating. An intercellular cytoplasmic bridge is formed, and one strand of the F-plasmid DNA is transferred from
donor to recipient, beginning at a unique origin and progressing in the 5 to 3 direction. The site on the plasmid DNA
at which transfer initiates is called the origin of transfer (oriT). Relaxase protein makes a single strand cut at the ori T
site in the plasmid. The transferred strand is converted to circular double-stranded F-plasmid DNA in the recipient
bacterium. Both of the exconjugant bacteria are F+, and the F-plasmid can therefore spread by infection among
genetically compatible populations of bacteria.
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F F conjugation
Integrated F-plasmids in Hfr strains can sometimes be excised from the bacterial chromosome. If excision precisely
reverses the integration process, F+ cells are produced. On rare occasions, however, excision occurs by recombinations
involving insertion sequences or other genes on the bacterial chromosome that are located at some distance from
the original integration site. In such cases segments of the bacterial chromosome can become incorporated into
hybrid F plasmids that are called F plasmids.
Bacterial
chromosome F factor
+
F Hfr F'
Figure 4.25 The F-factor is an episome and can integrate into the bacterial chromosome. However, this
integration is reversible. It can leave the bacterial chromosome. When the F-factor leaves an Hfr chromosome,
it occasionally picks up some bacterial genes to become an F-plasmid.
F F conjugation is virtually identical with F+ F conjugation. Bacterial genes on the F plasmid are transferred
with it and need not be incorporated into the recipient chromosome to be expressed. The recipient becomes F and
is a partially diploid merozygote since it has two sets of the genes carried by the plasmid. Such transfer of bacterial
genes is often called sexduction.

F' F
F' F'
Figure 4.26 F conjugation. Due to an error in excision, the chromosomal gene of an Hfr cell is picked up by
the F-factor. This gene is then transferred to a recipient during conjugation.
Interrupted mating experiment

Conjugation between different Hfr and F strains can be used to map the relative positions of genes in the bacterial
chromosome. The mapping procedure is based on the fact that genes closer to the origin of transfer will be
transferred at a higher frequency than genes farther away from the origin.
In an interrupted mating experiment, E. Wollman and F. Jacob mixed Hfr and F strains with suitable marker gene
and assessed the recombination of specific genes at different time. To accomplish this, a culture containing a
mixture of Hfr and F strain was incubated, samples were removed at various intervals and each was placed in an
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Chapter 05
Immunology
Immunology is the science that is concerned with immune response to foreign challenges. Immunity (derived
from Latin term immunis, meaning exempt), is the ability of an organism to resist infections by pathogens or state
of protection against foreign organisms or substances. The array of cells, tissues and organs which carry out this
activity constitute the immune system. Immunity is typically divided into two categoriesinnate and adaptive immunity.
5.1 Innate immunity

Innate (native/natural) immunity is present since birth and consists of many factors that are relatively nonspecific
that is, it operates against almost any foreign molecules and pathogens. It provides the first line of defense against
pathogens. It is not specific to any one pathogen but rather acts against all foreign molecules and pathogens. It also
does not rely on previous exposure to a pathogen and response is functional since birth and has no memory.
Elements of innate immunity
Physical barriers
Physical barriers are the first line of defense against microorganisms. It includes skin and mucous membrane. Most
organisms and foreign substances cannot penetrate intact skin but can enter the body if the skin is damaged.
Secondly, the acidic pH of sweat and sebaceous secretions and the presence of various fatty acids and hydrolytic
enzymes like lysozyme inhibit the growth of most microorganisms. Similarly, respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts
are lined by mucous membranes. Mucus membranes entrap foreign microorganisms. The respiratory tract is also
covered by cilia, which are hair like projections of the epithelial-cell membranes. The synchronous movement of
the cilia propels mucus-entrapped microorganisms out of these tracts. Similarly, the conjunctiva is a specialized,
mucus-secreting epithelial membrane that lines the interior surface of each eyelid. It is kept moist by the continuous
flushing action of tears (lacrimal fluid) from the lacrimal glands. Tears contain lysozyme, lactoferrin, IgA and thus
provide chemical as well as physical protection.
Microorganisms do occasionally breach the epithelial barricades. It is then up to the innate and adaptive immune
systems to recognize and destroy them, without harming the host. In case of innate immune response several
antimicrobial chemicals and phagocytic cells provide protection against pathogens.
Chemical mediator
A variety of chemicals mediate protection against microbes during the period before adaptive immunity develops.
The molecules of the innate immune system include complement proteins, cytokines, pattern recognition molecules,
acute-phase proteins, cationic peptides, enzyme like lysozyme and many others.
Complement proteins
The complement proteins are soluble proteins/glycoproteins that are mainly synthesized by liver and circulate in
the blood and extracellular fluid. They were originally identified by their ability to amplify and complement the
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Immunology
action of antibodies; hence, the name complement. It also bridges innate and adaptive immunity and removes
immune complexes. The complement system is composed of over 30 serum proteins. Activation of complement
proteins in response to certain microorganisms results in a controlled enzymatic cascade, which targets the membrane
of pathogenic organisms and leads to their destruction.
Cytokines
The term cytokine is a generic term for any low molecular weight soluble protein or glycoprotein released by one
cell population which acts as an intercellular mediator. It includes monokines, lymphokines, interleukins, interferons
and others. Cytokines are required for immunoregulation of both innate as well as adaptive immune responses.
Interferons are cytokines made by cells in response to virus infection, which essentially induce a generalized
antiviral state in surrounding cells.
Chemokines are small, positively charged secreted proteins that have a central role in guiding the migrations of
various types of white blood cells. They bind to the surface of endothelial cells, and to negatively charged proteoglycans
of the extracellular matrix in organs. By binding to G-protein-linked receptors on the surface of specific blood cells,
chemokines attract these cells from the bloodstream into an organ, guide them to specific locations within the
organ, and then help stop migration.
Pattern recognition molecule
Many molecules involved in innate immunity have the ability to recognize a given class of molecules i.e. recognize
pattern. Patterns are conserved structures and invariant among microorganisms of a given class. Pattern recognition
molecules that recognize Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern (PAMP) may be soluble, circulating proteins or cell
surface receptors. Many PAMPs are recognized by pattern recognition molecules present on the surface of phagocytic
cells. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are soluble pattern recognition molecules that
bind to microbial surfaces and promote their opsonization. Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs) are a class of pattern recognition
molecules that function exclusively as signaling receptors. It was originally identified as a protein involved in the
establishment of dorso-ventral polarity in developing fly embryos. It is also involved, however, in the adult flys
resistance to fungal infections. There are at least 10 distinct TLRs in humans, which recognize lipopolysaccharide,
peptidoglycan, zymosan and CpG DNA. For example, TLR-4 signals the presence of bacterial lipopolysaccharide
(LPS) and heat-shock proteins. TLR-2 signals the presence of bacterial lipoproteins and peptidoglycans. The TLR
family proteins consist of extracellular leucine rich repeat (LRR) motifs and a cytoplasmic tail containing a Toll/IL-1
receptor homology (TIR) domain. The LRR motifs are responsible for ligand recognition and the TIR domain is
essential for triggering intracellular signaling pathways.
Recruitment of Recruitment and Activation of Gene

TLR
adapter proteins activation of transcription transcription
protein kinase factors
Figure 5.1 TLR and basic signaling mechanisms.
Acute phase proteins are a heterogeneous group of plasma proteins mainly produced in the liver as the result of
a microbial stimulus. They include C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid protein A (SAA) and mannose binding
protein (MBP). Cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, etc.) released by macrophages upon activation by bacteria stimulate the
liver to rapidly produce acute-phase proteins. These proteins maximize activation of the complement system and
opsonization of invading microbes.
Cellular defenses
Many specialized cell types like neutrophils, macrophages, monocytes, natural killer cells participate in innate host
defense mechanisms. Once a pathogen evades the physical and chemical barriers, these specialized cells play an
important role in protection. Phagocytosis is a fundamental protective mechanism carried out by these cell types,
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Immunology
neutrophils, macrophages, monocytes and dendritic cells. In vertebrates, macrophages reside in tissues throughout
the body. Macrophages are long lived cells, which patrol the tissues of the body. The second major type of phagocytic
cells in vertebrates, the neutrophils, are short lived cells which are abundant in blood but are not present in normal
healthy tissues. Phagocytosis is the ingestion of invading foreign particles, such as bacteria by individual cell.
Phagocytosis may be enhanced by a variety of factors collectively referred to as opsonins (Greek word meaning
prepared food for), which consist of antibodies and various serum components of complement. The process by
which particulate antigens are rendered more susceptible to phagocytosis is called opsonization. After ingestion,
the foreign particle is entrapped in a phagocytic vacuole (phagosome), which fuses with lysosomes forming the
phagolysosome. The antimicrobial and cytotoxic substances present within the lysosome destroy the phagocytosed
microorganisms in the following ways:
Oxygen dependent killing mechanisms

During phagocytosis, a metabolic process known as the respiratory burst occurs in activated phagocytes. It results
in a transient increase in oxygen consumption by cell. Activated phagocytes generate a number of toxic products
such as reactive oxygen intermediates (such as hydroxyl radicals, hypochlorite anion, superoxide anions, hydrogen
peroxide) and reactive nitrogen intermediates (like NO, NO2, HNO2) which have potent antimicrobial activity.
Oxygen independent killing mechanisms

Activated macrophages also synthesize lysozyme, defensins (cysteine rich cationic peptides containing 2935
amino acid residues) and various hydrolytic enzymes/cytotoxic peptides whose degradative activities do not require
oxygen.
Inflammatory barriers
Inflammation is an important nonspecific defense reaction to cell injury. The hallmark signs of inflammation are
pain, redness (erythema), swelling (edema) and heat. Each of these is the result of specific changes in the local
blood vessels. Erythema is caused by increased vascular diameter, which leads to increased blood flow, thereby
causing heat and redness in the area. The blood vessels become permeable to fluid and proteins, leading to local
swelling and an accumulation of blood proteins that aid in defense. At the same time, the endothelial cells lining the
local blood vessels are stimulated to express cell adhesion proteins that facilitate the attachment and extravasion
(movement of blood cells through the vessel wall into the surrounding tissue) of white blood cells, including neutrophils,
lymphocytes, and monocytes.
The inflammatory response is mediated by a variety of signaling molecules. Activated macrophages produce
chemoattractants (known as chemokines). Some of these attract neutrophils, which are the first cells recruited in
large numbers to the site of the new infection. Others later attract monocytes and dendritic cells. The dendritic cells
pick up antigens from the invading pathogens and carry them to nearby lymph nodes, where they present the
antigens to lymphocytes to marshal the forces of the adaptive immune system. Two principal mediators of the
inflammatory response are histamine (released by a variety of cells in response to tissue injury) and kinins
(present in blood plasma in an inactive form). Both cause vasodilation and increased permeability of capillaries.
Kinins are also very potent nerve stimulators and are the molecules most responsible for pain associated with
inflammation.
5.2 Adaptive immunity

Adaptive immunity, also known as specific or acquired immunity, is capable of recognizing and selectively eliminating
specific foreign antigens. It does not come into play until there is an antigenic challenge to the organism. Adaptive
immunity displays four characteristic features:
1. Antigenic specificity : It is the ability to discriminate among different epitopes/antigens.
2. Immunologic memory : It is the ability to recall previous contact with a foreign molecule and respond to it in a
learned manner-that is, with a more rapid and larger response.
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Immunology
5.5 Antigens
Adaptive immune responses arise as a result of exposure to foreign compounds. The compound that evokes the
response is referred to as antigen, a term initially coined due to the ability of these compounds to cause antibody
responses to be generated. An antigen is any agent capable of binding specifically to T-cell receptor (TCR) or an
antibody molecule (membrane bound or soluble). The ability of a compound to bind with an antibody or a TCR is
referred to as antigenicity. There is a functional distinction between the term antigen and immunogen. An
immunogen is any agent capable of inducing an immune response and is therefore immunogenic. The distinction
between the terms is necessary because there are many compounds that are incapable of inducing an immune
response, yet they are capable of binding with components of the immune system that have been induced specifically
against them. Thus all immunogens are antigens, but not all antigens are immunogens.
Requirements for immunogenicity
A substance must possess the following characteristics to be immunogenic:
1. Foreignness
The most important feature of an immunogen is that an effective immunogen must be foreign with respect to
the host. The adaptive immune system recognizes and eliminates only foreign (nonself) antigens. Self antigens
are not recognized and thus individuals are tolerant to their own self molecules, even though these same
molecules have the capacity to act as immunogens in other individuals of the same species.
2. Size
The second requirement for being immunogenic is that the compound must have a certain minimal molecular
weight. There is a relationship between the size of immunogen and its immunogenicity. In general, small
compounds with a molecular weight <1000 Da (e.g. penicillin, aspirin) are not immunogenic; those of molecular
weight between 1000 and 6000 Da (e.g. insulin, adrenocorticotropic hormone) may or may not be immunogenic;
and those of molecular weight >6000 Da (e.g. albumin, tetanus toxin) are generally immunogenic. The most
active immunogens tend to have a molecular mass of 100,000 Da or more. In short relatively small substances
have decreased immunogenicity, whereas large substances have increased immunogenicity.
3. Chemical complexity
The third characteristic necessary for a compound to be immunogenic is a certain degree of chemical complexity.
For example, homopolymers of amino acids or sugars are seldom good immunogens regardless of their size.
Similarly, a homopolymer of poly--D-glutamic acid (the capsular material of Bacillus anthracis) with a molecular
weight of 50,000 Da is not immunogenic. The absence of immunogenicity is because these compounds, although
of high molecular weight, are not sufficiently chemically complex.
Virtually all proteins are immunogenic. Furthermore, the greater the degree of complexity of the protein, the
more vigorous will be the immune response to that protein. Carbohydrates are immunogenic only if they have
a complex polysaccharide structure or part of complex molecules such as glycoproteins. Nucleic acids and
lipids are poor immunogens by themselves, but they become immunogenic when they are conjugated to
protein carriers.
4. Dosage and route of administration

The insufficient dose of immunogen may not stimulate an immune response either because the amount
administered fails to activate enough lymphocytes or because such a dose renders the responding cells
unresponsive. Besides the need to administer a threshold amount of immunogen to induce an immune response,
the number of doses administered also affects the outcome of the immune response generated.
The route of administration also affects the outcome of the immunization because this determines which organs
and cell populations will be involved in the response. Immunogens can be administered through a number of
common routes: Intravenous (into a vein); intradermal (into the skin); subcutaneous (beneath the skin);
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Immunology
intramuscular (into the muscle). Antigens administered via the most common route namely, subcutaneously,
generally elicit the strongest immune responses. This is due to their uptake, processing, and presentation to
effector cells by Langerhans cells present in the skin, which are among the most potent APCs. Antigens
administered subcutaneously moves first to local lymph nodes. Intravenously administered antigens are carried
first to the spleen, where they can either induce immune unresponsiveness or tolerance, or if presented by APCs,
generate an immune response. Orally administered antigens (gastrointestinal route) elicit local antibody responses
within the intestinal lamina propria.
Haptens
Substances called haptens (from the Greek hapten, which means to grasp) fail to induce immune responses in
their native form because of their low molecular weight and their chemical simplicity. Haptens are antigenic but not
immunogenic. These compounds become immunogenic when they are conjugated to high molecular weight,
physiochemically complex carriers. Thus, a hapten is a compound that, by itself, is incapable of inducing an
immune response. However, when hapten is conjugated to a carrier, an immune response can be induced against it.
Antigen-antibody interactions
Ag-Ab interaction is highly specific and occurs in a similar way as a bimolecular association of an enzyme-substrate.
The binding between antigens and immune components involves weak non-covalent interactions. The binding
forces are relatively weak and reversible and consist mainly of van der Waals forces, electrostatic forces, and
hydrophobic forces, all of which require a very close proximity between the interacting moieties. The smallest unit
of antigen that is capable of binding with antibodies is called an antigenic determinant (or epitope). The
corresponding area on the Ab molecule combining with the epitope is called paratope. The number of epitopes on
the surface of an antigen is its valence. The valence determines the number of antibody molecules that can combine
with the antigen at one time. If one epitope is present, the antigen is monovalent. Most antigens, however, have
more than one copy of the same epitope and are termed polyvalent.
Affinity and avidity

The intrinsic association constant that characterizes the noncovalent interaction between single antigen binding site
of an antibody (paratope) with an epitope is termed affinity. Low-affinity antibodies bind antigen weakly and tend
to dissociate readily, whereas high-affinity antibodies bind antigen more tightly and remain bound longer.
High affinity Low affinity
Ab Ab
Ag Ag
Figure 5.4 Affinity is the strength with which a monovalent ligand interacts with a binding site.
When the antigen consists of many repeating identical epitopes or when antigens are multivalent, the association
between the entire antigen molecules and antibodies depends not only on the affinity between each epitope and its
corresponding antibody but also on the sum of the affinities of all the epitopes involved. The term avidity is used
to denote the overall binding between antibodies and a multivalent antigen. So, when complex Ag having multiple
repeating epitopes, are mixed with Ab having multiple binding sites, the interaction of such type between multivalent
Ab and Ag is called, the avidity. Thus, in general, IgM antibodies with 10 antigen binding sites are of higher avidity
than IgG antibodies, although the binding of each Fab in the IgM antibody with ligand may be of the same affinity as
that of the Fab from IgG.
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Physical form of the antigen
The physical form of the antigen influences the reaction with an antibody. When the antigen is particulate, the
reaction of an antibody with the antigen can be detected by agglutination (clumping) of the antigen. If the antigen
is a soluble, one generally looks for the precipitation of the antigen after the production of large insoluble antigen-
antibody complexes.
Adjuvant
An adjuvant (from Latin word adjuvare means to help) is a substance that when mixed with an immunogen and
injected with it, enhances the immune response against the immunogen. Adjuvants are often used to boost the
immune response in case of weak immunogens or when antigens are available in small amount. A carrier for a
hapten and an adjuvant is different. A hapten will become immunogenic when conjugated covalently to a carrier; it
will not become immunogenic if mixed with an adjuvant. Thus an adjuvant enhances the immune response to
immunogens but does not confer immunogenicity on haptens. How adjuvants augment the immune response has
remained enigmatic.
While many adjuvants have been developed in animal models and tested experimentally in humans, only one has
been used for routine vaccination. Currently, aluminum potassium sulfate (alum) is a common adjuvant used for
human vaccines. Alum prolongs the persistence of antigen. When an antigen is mixed with alum, the salt precipitates
the antigen. Another commonly used adjuvant is Freunds complete and incomplete adjuvant . Freunds incomplete
adjuvant contains antigen in aqueous solution, oil, and an emulsifying agent such as mannide monooleate. Freunds
complete adjuvant contains heat-killed Mycobacteria as an additional ingredient.
Comparison of antigen recognition by T-cells and B-cells
The recognition of antigens by T-cells and B-cells is fundamentally different. B-cells recognize soluble antigens
whereas most T-cells recognize only peptides combined with MHC molecules.
Table 5.3 Antigen recognition by B and T-cells

Characteristics B-cells T-cells
Antigen interaction B-cell receptor (membrane Ig) binds Ag T-cell receptor binds Ag and MHC
Nature of antigens Protein, polysaccharide, glycolipid Peptide
Binding soluble antigens Yes No
Epitopes recognized Accessible areas of protein structure Antigens processed internally and
containing sequential amino acids and presented as linear peptides bound to
non-sequential amino acids MHC molecules
MHC molecules Not required Required to display processed antigen
Adapted and modified from Immunology, Goldsby et. al, Freeman Publication.
T-dependent and T-independent antigens
T-dependent or thymus dependent (TD) antigens are those that require direct contact with TH cells, not simply
exposure to TH -derived cytokines to stimulate B-cells for the production of antibodies. Proteins are T-dependent
antigens. T-independent or thymus independent (TI) antigens are antigens that can activate B cells in the absence
of any direct contact with TH cells. Examples of TI antigens are lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of bacterial outer membrane,
bacterial flagellin and cell-wall and capsular polysaccharides.
Unlike the T-dependent antigens, the T-independent antigens:
Do not produce isotype switching (IgM is almost exclusively produced).
Do not demonstrate affinity maturation (in which antibodies of progressively higher affinity are produced).
Do not show immunological memory hence secondary responses.
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5.7 Immunoglobulins : Structure and function

Antibodies, the antigen-binding glycoproteins are synthesized exclusively by B-cells and in billions of forms, each
with a different amino acid sequence and a different antigen binding site. Collectively called immunoglobulins (Ig),
they are among the most abundant protein components in the blood, constituting about 20% of the total protein
components in the blood plasma. Antibodies (Ab) are present on the B-cell membrane and also are secreted by
plasma cells.
5.7.1 Basic structure of antibody molecule

The simplest antibodies are Y-shaped molecules with two identical antigen-binding sites, one at the tip of each arm
of the Y. Because of their two antigen-binding sites, they are described as bivalent.
Antibody has a common structure of 4 polypeptide chains. It is a heterodimer and consists of two identical light (L)
chains (each containing about 220 amino acids residues, about 25000 MW) and two identical heavy (H) chains
(each usually containing about 440 amino acids residues, about 50,000 MW). Each light chain is bound to heavy
chain by disulfide bridges and other non-covalent linkages. Thus, antibody is a dimer of HL chain.
All species studied have the two major classes of light chains: and . Any one individual of a species produces both
types of light chain. However, in any one immunoglobulin molecule, the light chains are always either both or both
, never one of each. While there are two types of light chains, the immunoglobulins of virtually all species have
been shown to consist of five different types of heavy chains- , , , and . These five different types of heavy
chains are called isotypes. The heavy-chains of a given antibody molecule determine the class of that antibody:
IgM (), IgG (), IgA (), IgD () or IgE (). Each class can have either or light chains. Any individual of a species
makes all heavy chains, but in any one antibody molecule, both heavy chains are identical. Thus an antibody
molecule of the IgG class could have the structure 22 with two identical light chains and two identical heavy
chains. Alternatively, it could have the structure 22 with two identical light chains and two identical heavy
chains.
Immunoglobulin heavy chain isotypes

Isotype Heavy chain
IgM
IgD
IgG
IgA
IgE
Minor differences in the amino-acid sequences of the and the heavy chains led to further classification of the
heavy chains into subclasses. In humans, there are two subclasses of heavy chains (1 and 2) and four subclasses
of heavy chains (1, 2, 3 and 4).
Both light and heavy chains have a variable sequence at their N-terminal ends but a constant sequence at their
C-terminal ends. Light chains have a constant region (CL) about 110 amino acids long and a variable region
(VL) of the same size. The variable region (VH) of the heavy chains (at their N-terminus) is also about 110 amino
acids long, but the heavy-chain constant region (CH) is about three to four times longer (330 or 440 amino acids),
depending on the class. It is the N-terminal ends of the light and heavy chains that come together to form the
antigen-binding site.
The diversity in the variable regions of both light and heavy chains is for the most part restricted to three small
hypervariable regions (each ~10 amino acid residues long) in each chain called complementarity determining
regions (CDR); the remaining parts of the variable region, known as framework regions, are relatively constant.
Proceeding from either the VL or VH amino terminus, these regions are called CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3. The CDR3 is
the most variable of the CDRs.
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Deduction of Ab structure
Porter and Edelman elucidated the basic structure of the Ig molecule but their approaches were different. Porter
found that proteolytic treatment with the enzyme papain split the Ig molecule (molecular mass 150,000Da) into
three fragments of about equal size. Two of these fragments were found of equal size, each of molecular mass
45,000Da called Fab fragments (fragment antigen binding) because they had Ag binding activity. Fab fragments
are considered to be univalent, possessing one binding site each and being in every way identical to each other. The
third fragment of molecular weight 50000 called the FC fragment (fragment crystallizable). It cannot bind antigen.
At about the same time, Edelman discovered that when -globulin was extensively reduced by treatment with
mercaptoethanol, the molecule fell apart into four chains: two identical light chains with a molecular mass of about
53,000Da each and two others of about 22,000 Da each. The large molecules were designated heavy (H) chains
and the smaller ones, light (L) chains. On the basis of these results, the structure of immunoglobulin molecules,
was proposed.
Disulfide
bonds L chain
S
S
S
S
S S
S S
H chain Fc
Papain digestion Pepsin digestion
Fab Fab
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S S S S
S S S S
+
Fc Fc fragments
Figure 5.12 Prototype structure of IgG, showing chain structure and interchain disulfide bonds. The fragments
produced by various treatments are also indicated. Light (L) chains are depicted in gray and heavy (H) chains
in black.
Another researcher, Nisonoff used pepsin to digest the Ig. It generated a single 100,000 MW fragment composed of
two Fab-like fragments and designated F(ab)2. Unlike Fab-fragments, F(ab)2 fragment was able to precipitate
antigens. The FC fragment was not recovered from pepsin digestion, because it had been digested into multiple
fragments.
Immunoglobulins domains
The structure of the immunoglobulin molecule is determined by the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary
organization of the protein. The primary structure i.e. the amino-acid sequence, accounts for the variable and
constant regions of the heavy and light chains. The secondary structure is formed by folding of the extended
polypeptide chain back and forth upon itself into an antiparallel -pleated sheet. The chains are then folded into a
tertiary structure of compact globular domains, which are connected to neighboring domains by continuations of
the polypeptide chain that lie outside the -pleated sheets. Finally, the globular domains of adjacent heavy and light
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5.15 The complement system

The complement (term coined by Paul Ehrlich) system, made up of approximately 30 serum and cell surface
proteins/glycoproteins, is an important effector arm of both the innate and antibody-mediated acquired immune
responses. The complement systems perform various functions. These functions include: Lysis of cells, opsonization,
viral neutralization, inflammatory responses and solubilization and clearance of immune complexes which remove
the immune complexes from the circulation and deposit them in the spleen and liver.
Complement components
Complement components include a group of proteins/glycoproteins. These components are designated by numerals
(C1C9), by letter symbols (e.g. factor D), or by trivial names (e.g. homologous restriction factor). Designation
C1, C2,C9 denote the order in which the components were discovered, rather than their position in the activation
sequence.
Complement components are synthesized mainly by liver hepatocytes. Monocytes, tissue macrophages, and epithelial
cells of the gastrointestinal tract also produce significant amounts of complement components. In the circulation,
the concentration of all complement proteins is about 3 mg/mL. Some complement components are found at high
concentrations (e.g. C3 at about 1 mg/mL), while others (such as factor D and C2) are found in only trace amounts.
Complement activation pathways
Most complement components are present in the serum in functionally inactive forms as proenzymes or zymogens.
Complement activation pathways involve the activation of one component that triggers the activation of the next
component in the sequence.
Upon activation, individual components are split into fragments, designated by lower-case letters. The smaller of
the cleaved fragments is generally designated with a lower-case a, and the large fragment with a lower-case b; for
historical reasons, however, the large cleavage fragment of C2 is usually referred to as C2a and the smaller
fragment C2b. The larger fragments bind to the target near the site of activation, and the smaller fragments diffuse
from the site and can initiate localized inflammatory responses. The complement fragments interact with one
another to form functional complexes. Those complexes that have enzymatic activity are designated by a bar over
the number or symbol (e.g. C3bBb ). There are three pathways of complement activation. These are the classical,
lectin and alternative pathways.
Classical pathways
The classical pathway was so named because it was the first complement pathway to be worked out. The classical
pathway commonly begins with the formation of antigen-antibody complexes. Thus this pathway is a major effector
pathway of the humoral adaptive immune response. Other activators include some viruses, necrotic cells and
subcellular membranes (e.g. from mitochondria), aggregated immunoglobulins, and beta-amyloid, found in Alzheimer
disease plaques.
The classical pathway is initiated when C1 binds to the antibody in an antigen-antibody complex. C1 is a complex
of three different proteins: C1q (made up of six identical subunits) combined with two molecules each of C1r and
C1s. IgM and certain subclasses of IgG (human IgG1, IgG2, and IgG3) are efficient complement-activating antibodies.
Among the human immunoglobulins, the ability to bind and activate C1 is, in decreasing order, IgM > IgG3 > IgG1
>> IgG2. IgG4, IgD, IgA, and IgE do not have C1q receptors; these antibodies do not bind or activate C1 and thus
do not activate the classical complement pathway. C1q of C1 binds to the Fc region of antibodies. This activates C1r,
a serine protease that initiates the cascade of the classic pathway. First, C4 is proteolytically activated into C4b,
which in turn cleaves C2 into C2a and C2b. C4b and C2a together form C3 convertase.
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Diversity of Life
6.1 Taxonomy
Taxonomy (arrangement by the rules) is the branch of biology that deals with identification (placement of a new
organism into a previously described group), nomenclature (the naming of organisms) and classification (ordering
of organisms into groups- can be phenetic or phylogenetic) of organisms. Systematics is the process of organizing
taxonomic information about organisms into a logical classification that provides the framework for all comparative
studies. It is the scientific study of biological diversity and its evolutionary history. Systematics and taxonomy are
collectively referred to as the systematic biology.
Levels of taxonomy
There are three levels of taxonomy:
Alpha taxonomy : It is concerned with finding, describing and naming of organisms. This is the first and most
basic step in taxonomy.
Beta taxonomy : It includes identification of natural groups and biological classes.
Gamma taxonomy : It includes study of evolutionary processes and patterns.
Organisms were first classified more than 2,000 years ago by Greek philosopher Aristotle. He classified organisms
as either plant or animal. Modern biological classification began with the eighteenth century Swedish naturalist
C. Linnaeus. He established a simple system for classifying and naming organisms. He developed a hierarchy
(a ranking system) for classifying organisms that is the basis for modern taxonomy.
6.1.1 Nomenclature
Nomenclature is the formal naming of a particular organism according to some standardized system. The fundamental
principle of nomenclature is that each organism must have only one scientific name. In contrast to scientific names,
many organisms also bear common names (also called vernacular names), which are generally used by people
within a limited geographic region. Presently, the criteria for scientific naming of plants, algae and fungi are based
on the rules and recommendations of the International Code of Nomenclature or ICN. It was formerly called the
International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN); the name was changed at the International Botanical Congress
in July 2011. Similarly, International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) provides rules for naming animals.
The scientific names of species are binomials (literally meaning two names). Swedish botanist Linnaeus (referred
to as the father of taxonomy) first proposed the system of binomial nomenclature or binary nomenclature. According
to binomial nomenclature, the first name of the binomial is the genus name (generic name). The second name of
the binomial is the specific epithet or species epithet (specific name - a term used only in zoology). The first word
denoting the genus starts with a capital letter while the specific epithet starts with a small letter. Binomial names are
always either italicized or underlined to indicate their Latin origin. For example, Mangifera indica is the scientific
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name of mango. In this name Mangifera represents the genus while indica, is a specific epithet. A binomial name in
which the name of the genus and that of the species are identical is called tautonym.
Nomenclature types
The scientific names must be associated with some physical entity, known as a nomenclatural type or simply type.
A nomenclatural type is one particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is
formally attached. Types are usually physical specimens that are kept in a museum or herbarium research collection,
but it may also be an illustration. The type serves the purpose of acting as a reference for the name, upon which the
name is based. There are different types of nomenclatural type:
Holotype : A holotype is the one specimen or illustration upon which a name is based.
Isotype : An isotype is a duplicate specimen of the holotype, collected at the same time by the same person
from the same population.
Lectotype : A lectotype is a specimen that is selected from the original material to serve as the type when no
holotype was designated at the time of publication, if the holotype is missing, or if the original type
consisted of more than one specimen or taxon.
Neotype : A specimen later selected to serve as the single type specimen when an original holotype has
been lost or destroyed, or where the original author never cited a specimen.
6.1.2 Classification
Classification is the arrangement of taxa into some type of order. The purpose of classification is to provide a
system for cataloguing and expressing relationships between taxa. Classification is not a single step process but
involves hierarchy of steps in which each step represents a category termed rank. Rarely, the term taxonomic
category is used instead of rank. Every organism can be classified at seven taxonomic ranks- kingdom, phylum,
class, order, family, genus and species. Each rank contains organisms with similar characteristics. The kingdom is
the largest unit of classification. It splits into smaller units called phyla (singular, phylum). Phyla splits into classes,
classes into orders, orders into families, families into genera (singular, genus) and genera into species.
Example:
Seven taxonomic ranks Taxa
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum (Division) Magnoliophyta
Class Liliopsida
Order Arecales
Family Arecaceae
Genus Cocos
Species Cocos nucifera
The various units of classification kingdom, phylum, class and so on are called taxonomic categories and
together they make up the taxonomic hierarchy. A taxon is a defined group of organisms typically treated at a
given rank. In the above example, Magnoliophyta is a taxon placed at the rank of phylum; Liliopsida is a taxon
placed at the rank of class. As one progresses down the hierarchy, the number of organisms in each taxon
decreases, and the similarities between them increases.
6.1.3 Biological species concept

Biologists almost universally agree that the species is a fundamental natural unit. However, biologists have not
been able to agree on exactly how species should be defined. Taxonomists practically define species by means of
morphological or phenetic characters. If one group of organisms consistently differs from other organisms, it will be
defined as a separate species.
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However, the most widely accepted species concept is the biological species concept. It defines species in terms of
interbreeding. According to Ernst Mayr, species are groups of interbreeding natural populations that are reproductively
isolated from other such groups. Reproductively isolated means that members of the species do not interbreed with
members of other species. The biological species concept explains why the members of a species resemble one
another, and differ from other species. When two organisms breed within a species, their genes pass into their
offspring. As this process is repeated, the genes of different organisms are constantly shuffled around the species
gene pool. The shared gene pool gives the species its identity. By contrast, genes are not (by definition) transferred
to other species, and different species therefore take on a different appearance. If two species are very similar to
each other morphologically so much so that it is difficult to distinguish but are nevertheless reproductively isolated
are termed as sibling species (sometimes called cryptic species).
Subspecies
Subspecies is a taxonomic subdivision of a species often distinguished by special phenotypic characters and by its
origin or localization in a given geographical region. Members of a subspecies would share a unique, geographic
locale, a set of phylogenetically concordant phenotypic characters, and a unique natural history relative to other
subdivisions of the species. Although subspecies are not reproductively isolated, they will normally be allopatric
and exhibit recognizable phylogenetic partitioning.
The terms race and subspecies are potentially misleading and are most often used synonymously. Although the
term race is normally used in case of human populations. However, when a distinction is made, race generally
implies a lower level of differentiation.
A species which consists of a single uniform population, devoid of differentiated and semi-isolated local populations
(subspecies) is monotypic (i.e. all one basic kind). A species is polytypic if it is subdivided into two or more subspecies.
6.1.4 Phenetics
Phenetic means as observed in the phenotype. Phenetics, also known as taximetrics, is an attempt to classify
organisms based on overall similarity, usually in morphology or other observable traits, regardless of their phylogeny
or evolutionary relationship. Phenetic characters refer to all the observable or measurable characters of an organism.
Phenetic classification schemes do not distinguish between homologous characters and analogous characters. The
result of phenetic relationship is often summarized with a tree-like network called a phenogram. Phenogram is a
type of dendrogram which is based on phenetic data. Lines called phenon lines, drawn at right angles to the
dichotomously branching dendrogram, represent lines of percentage similarity of phenetic features between
organisms. (Dendrogram is a diagram that represents relationships among groups of taxa, with the highest taxon
at the base of a vertical line from which lower taxa branch at appropriate levels).
A common misconception equates phenetics with numerical taxonomy, but in fact most phenetic taxonomy is not
numerically based. Phenetics is not characterized by any particular methodology. Numerical taxonomy is a classification
system which developed as a part of multivariate analysis. It aims to create a taxonomy using numeric algorithms
like cluster analysis rather than using subjective evaluation of their properties. It is based on quantifying observable
characteristics of organisms. The closeness between different groups is determined by the total number of individuals
characteristics which they have in common.
Determination of phenetic relationship (overall similarity) between Operational Taxonomic Units

The character states are compared from one OTU (Operational Taxonomic Unit) to the next. A number of methods
(or coefficients) exist for making such comparisons between OTUs and one of the simplest method is called the
simple matching coefficient. This is calculated by counting the number of character states for each character which
are common between two OTUs and then dividing this number by the total number of characters used. The simple
matching coefficients are then arranged to form a similarity matrix. This is a matrix in which the rows and columns
represent organisms and each value is an association coefficient measuring the similarity of two different organisms
so that each organism is compared to every other one in the table.
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To see how this analysis is done, consider the set of characters for each of five vertebrates a leopard, turtle,
salamander, tuna, and lamprey. As a basis of comparison, an outgroup is selected. An outgroup is a species or
group of species from an evolutionary lineage that is known to have diverged before the lineage that includes the
species being studied (the ingroup). An example of such a character is a structure called a notochord, a flexible
rod running the length of the animal. Lancelets have notochords throughout their lives, but in vertebrates, the
notochord is present only in embryos and is replaced later in development by the backbone. The species making up
the ingroup display a mixture of shared ancestral and shared derived characters. The outgroup comparison enables
us to focus on just those characters that were derived at the various branch points of vertebrate evolution. Note
that all the vertebrates in the ingroup have backbones; this is a shared primitive character that was present in the
ancestral vertebrate, though not in the outgroup.
Cladogram
A branching diagram (dendrogram) that is constructed by cladistic principle and method is called a cladogram. Any
branching of the cladogram represents lineage divergence, the formation of two separate lineages from one
common ancestor. The point of divergence is termed a node and the region between two nodes is called an
internode or internal branch. Taxa placed at the ends of branches are called terminal taxa and the branches leading
to them are called terminal branches. The two taxa that split from the node are called sister taxa. The sister taxa
must be more closely related to each other than to any other group because they share a close common ancestor.
The term phylogenetic tree is often used synonymously with cladogram. However, phylogenetic tree and cladogram
are not same. A phylogenetic tree (phylogram) is a specific type of cladogram where the branch lengths are
proportional to the predicted evolutionary time between organisms or sequences. Cladograms are branched diagrams,
similar in appearance to family trees, that illustrate patterns of relatedness where the branch lengths are not
necessarily proportional to the evolutionary time between related organisms or sequences.
Apart from phenetic and phylogenetic taxonomy, some scientists advocate evolutionary taxonomy. Evolutionary
taxonomy incorporates both phenetic and phylogenetic elements. In terms of the kinds of taxonomic groups,
evolutionary classification recognizes paraphyletic and monophyletic but not polyphyletic groups. In terms of the
kinds of characters used to infer phylogeny, it forms groups by homologies rather than homoplasies, but does not
distinguish ancestral from derived homologies.
6.2 The five-kingdom system

In the early days of biology, all organisms were classified as either plants or animals. In year 1969, Robert H.
Whittaker, an American taxonomist, described a five-kingdom classification. The five kingdoms are Monera
(prokaryotes), Protista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia. His classification is based on two main criteria - the level of
organization of the organisms and their method of nutrition. He recognized two levels of organization - prokaryotes
(which are without nucleus) and eukaryotes (which are with nucleus). Eukaryotes are further subdivided into
unicellular and multicellular eukaryotes. The methods of nutrition were: heterotrophic (which are further subdivided
into ingestive and absorptive) and autophototrophic.
Monera : Prokaryotic cellular organization.

Protista : Unicellular eukaryotes.
Fungi : Multicellular eukaryotes which feed heterotrophically by absorption.
Plantae : Multicellular eukaryotes which are photoautotrophic.
Animalia : Multicellular eukaryotes which feed heterotrophically by ingestion.
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Diversity of Life
creating a level of classification larger than a kingdom a new category called a domain. The two domains of
prokaryotes are Bacteria and Archaea. The domain Eukarya encompasses all of the kingdoms of eukaryotes. The
three-domain system of biological classification was introduced by Carl Woese on the basis of differences in the
signature sequences of 16S/18S rRNA genes of eubacteria, archaebacteria and eukaryotes.
History of taxonomic concepts

Linnaeus, 1735 2 Kingdoms Animalia and Vegetabilia
Haeckel, 1866 3 Kingdoms Protista, Plantae and Animalia
Chatton, 1937 2 Empires Prokaryota and Eukaryota
Copeland, 1956 4 Kingdoms Monera (prokaryotes), Protista, Plantae and Animalia
Whittaker, 1969 5 Kingdoms Monera, Fungi, Protista, Plantae and Animalia
Woese et al, 1977 6 Kingdoms Eubacteria, Archaea, Protista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia
Woese and Fox, 1999 3 Domain systems Eubacteria, Archaea and Eukaryotes
6.3 Protists
The German zoologist Ernst Haeckel first used the term protista. Protists are mostly unicellular (some are colonial
and multicellular) eukaryotic organisms. Most eukaryotes are single-celled organisms. Protists are difficult to
characterize because of the great diversity of the kingdom. These organisms vary in body form, nutrition and
reproduction. Protists are capable of sexual, as well as asexual reproduction. They can be free-living, or may live
symbiotically with another organism. The symbiosis can be mutualistic, where both partners benefit, or parasitic,
where the protist uses its host as a source of food or shelter while providing no advantage to the other organism.
Protists are more nutritionally diverse than other eukaryote groups. Some protists are photoautotrophs. Some are
heterotrophs, absorbing organic molecules or ingesting larger food particles. Still others, called mixotrophs, combine
photosynthesis and heterotrophic nutrition.
Despite the great diversity evident in this kingdom, scientists have been able to classify the protists into several
groups. The protists can be classified into one of three main categories, animal-like, plant-like and fungus-like.
Grouping into one of the three categories is based on an organisms mode of reproduction, method of nutrition and
motility. The animal-like protists are known as the protozoa, the plant-like photosynthetic protists are the algae,
and the fungus-like protists are the slime molds and water molds.
6.3.1 Protozoan protists

The protozoa are all unicellular heterotrophs, mostly free living. They obtain their nutrition by ingesting other
organisms or dead organic materials. The word protozoa comes from the Latin word for first animals.
Features of protozoa:
Unicellular (single celled) organisms.
Aquatic, free-living or parasitic organisms.
Nutrition is heterotrophic.
Locomotion with the help of pseudopodia, cilia or flagella. The protozoans are grouped into various phyla based
on their modes of locomotion. They may use cilia, flagella or pseudopodia. Some protozoans are non motile.
The protozoans that use pseudopodia to move are known as amoeboid protozoans, those that use flagella are
called flagellated protozoans, those that use cilia are known as the ciliated protozoans and those that do not
move are called the sporozoans.
Both asexual and sexual reproduction occur among the protozoa. One of the simplest and most common forms
of asexual reproduction is binary fission, a mitotic process. Other forms of asexual reproduction are budding
and multiple fission (or schizogony). In multiple fission, a large number of daughter cells form from the division
of a single protozoan.
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A generalized life cycle of bryophytes

During sexual life cycle, sporophyte produces spores in sporangium. Haploid spores formed by meiosis begins the
gametophytic generation. The spore germinates to form a gametophyte, which is more diverse in bryophytes than
in any other group of plants. The gametophyte bears antheridia and archegonia. Antheridia produce sperms, and
archegonia produce eggs. Sexual reproduction in bryophytes requires free water, because the sperm must swim to
the egg. Sperms released from an antheridium do not swim randomly; rather, they are attracted by a gradient of
a still-unidentified chemotactic substance(s) produced by an archegonium. A sperm fertilizes an egg and forms a
diploid zygote, thus beginning the sporophytic generation of the life cycle. Bryophytes have heteromorphic alternation
of generation; that is, the sporophyte and gametophyte are distinctly different.
Spores Archegonium
Gametophyte
Antheridium
Mature
sporangium
}
Fertilization
Sperms
Capsule (Motile)
Sporophyte
Archegonium
Embryo
Gametophyte
Figure 6.9 Sexual life cycle in Funeria. The spore germinates and produces a protonema (not shown in the
figure) and the leafy stage of the gametophyte develops from the protonemal stage. The male and female
sex organs, the antheridia and the archegonia respectively, are produced on the gametophytic plant. Haploid
sperm are released from the antheridia and fertilize with a haploid egg present in an archegonium. The
zygote develops into the diploid sporophyte. Typically sporophyte is differentiated into a foot, seta and spore
forming capsule.
540

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www.pathfinderacademy.

Life Sciences Fundamentals and Practice, Fourth edition

Copyright 2014 by Pathfinder Publication, all rights reserved.

This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly

Publisher : Pathfinder Publication

Answers of self test 567

1.1 Amino acids and Proteins

Figure 1.1 General structure of an amino acid.

Figure 1.2 Structure of glycine and lysine.

Amino acids can act as acids and bases

Low pH (pH < pI) Intermediate pH High pH (pH > pI)

1.1.1 Optical properties

1.4 Protein sequencing and assays

O2N F + NH2 C COOH O2N N C COOH + HF

FDNB Yellow-coloured derivative

Labeling removes one residue at a time from

the amino end of a peptide. The labeled

Table 1.8 Specificities of proteolytic enzymes.

Agents Site of Cleavage

Cleavage of disulfide bonds

1.5 Nucleic acids

Adenine Guanine Cytosine Uracil Thymine

Figure 1.38 Sugar puckers.

Figure 1.39 Structure of nucleoside.

Table 1.9 Naming nucleosides and nucleotides

Adenine (A) Guanine (G) Cytosine (C) Uracil (U)/Thymine (T)

Nucleosidesin RNA Adenosine Guanosine Cytidine Uridine

Table 1.10 Comparisons of different forms of DNA

Geometry attribute A-form B-form Z-form

1.6.3 Triplex DNA

Thermodynamic stability of RNA structure

Small silencing RNAs

1.7.1 Alkali-catalyzed cleavage of RNA

Figure 1.55 Alkali-catalyzed cleavage of RNA.

1.7.2 RNA world hypothesis

1.7.3 RNA as genetic material

TMV type A RNA A

Degraded TMV type B

TMV type B RNA B

The number of the carbon atoms present

Presence of aldehydes or ketones groups

Aldoses are monosaccharides with an aldehyde group.

Figure 1.57 Trioses, the simplest monosaccharides.

O-linked glycosidic bond N-linked glycosidic bond

1.8.8 Reducing and non-reducing sugar

Essential fatty acids

Melting point of fatty acids

Why unsaturated fatty acids have low melting points?

1.9.2 Triacylglycerol and Wax

Figure 1.66 General structure of triacylglycerol.

CH3(CH2)14 C O CH2 (CH2)28 CH3

Figure 1.67 The general structure of a wax.

1.10.1 Water-soluble vitamins

Thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP)

Figure 1.74 Structure of thiamine and thiamine pyrophosphate.

Riboflavin (vitamin B2)

CH2OH H2C O P P Adenosine

Riboflavin FAD (Oxidized)

Figure 1.76 Structure of NAD+ (Oxidized).

Table 1.20 Vitamin B-complex and their coenzyme forms

Table 1.21 Example of some enzymes and their cofactors

1.11.1 Naming and classification of enzyme

Common name and EC numbers of some enzyme